■^ 



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■i<^ 0,0! 



>'-'>^ 



DIGEST 



ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 



BKJ.ATIVF, TO THE 



FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT 



tntr of p^nn^ijluiiniiL 



PHILADELPHIA: 

lUSriY & MAiJKLKY, PKIXTERS, GOLDSMITH'S HALL, LIBRARY STREET. 

1852. 



0^ DIGEST 



ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 



KELATIVE TO THE 



FIRST SCHOOL DISTRICT 



STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. ^^-^-^ 



PUBLISHED BY OB.DEE OF THE BOAKD OF CONTROLLERS. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

CRISST & MARKLEY, PRINTERS, GOLDSMITH'S HALL, LIBRARY STREET. 

1852, 



INTEODUCTION. 



The following brief general statement of the organization of 
the Public Schools in the First School District of Pennsylvania, 
and the relative rights and duties of the Controllers and Direc- 
tors, is submitted as an Introduction to a Digest of the acts of 
Assembly relating to the same. 

The First School District comprises the whole of the City and 
County of Philadelphia, and is divided into eleven different 
Sections, in each of which there is one or more Boards of Direc- 
tors : 

The First Section includes the City of Philadelphia. 

The Second Section includes the Northern Liberties. 

The Third Section includes Southwark. 

The Fourth Section includes Spring Garden. 

The Fifth Section includes Oxford, Lower Dublin, Byberry 
and Moreland. 

The Sixth Section includes Germantown, Manayunk, Roxbo- 
rough and Bristol. 



The Seventh and Eighth Sections includes West Philadelphia, 
Blockley, Kingsessing and Passyunk. 

The Ninth Section includes Moyamensing. 

The Tenth Section includes Kensington. 

The Eleventh Section includes North and South Penn Town- 
ship and Unincorporated Northern Liberties. 

The Board of Controllers consists of twenty-four members, 
elected by the Boards of Directors of the diiferent sections on 
the first Monday of July annually. Their term of service ex- 
pires on the thirtieth day of June succeeding their election. 

To this Board the First Section sends seven members ; the 
Second, Fourth and Tenth Sections .each three members ; the 
Third and Ninth Sections each two members ; the Fifth, Sixth 
and Eleventh Sections each one member, and the Seventh and 
Eighth Sections jointly, one member. 

It is the duty of the Controllers to determine upon the num- 
ber of School Houses to be erected and established in each 
section, and to provide suitable books for the pupils. They 
direct what number of Teachers shall be employed, and limit 
their salaries. They have a general superintendence over all 
the schools in the district, and have the power to make such 
rules and regulations for their own government and that of the 
schools, as may be requisite to carry the school system into 
complete effect. This Board, in conjunction with the County 
Board, determines the amount of money to be raised an- 
nually from the county for the use of the schools, and have 
the entire control of the finances of the system. The de- 
mands for salaries, building, &c., are paid by orders drawn by 



the Board of Control on the County Treasurer. The smaller 
bills (under $20) are paid by the Treasurers of the different 
sections, who receive funds for that purpose from the Board of 
Control. The Board of Controllers prescribe the duties of the 
visitors of the night schools, have power to establish night 
schools for females, to fix the time for re-opening and closing of 
all night schools, and determine the age at which pupils may be 
admitted therein. The Controllers have the High School and 
the Model School under their particular charge, and appoint 
the requisite Visiting Committees for the same. 

The stated meetings of the Board of Controllers are held on 
the second Tuesday of each month. The accumulation of busi- 
ness has led to a necessity for frequent special and adjourned 
meetings, which are held at the discretion of the members. 

rive members constitute a quorum for the making of orders 
for the payment of money and the transaction of business gene- 
rally, with this exception, that no order for the payment of 
money can be made at any special meeting, unless a majority of 
the whole number be present. 

It is a standing rule of the Board, which, unless in cases of 
great emergency, is strictly adhered to, that no order for money 
shall be authorized unless the claim has been previously approved 
by the Committee on Accounts. 

The Committee on Accounts meet statedly on the Saturday 
preceding each stated meeting of the Board, and to ensure 
regularity and avoid confusion, they refuse to consider any 
claim which is not submitted to them prior to the "Wednesday 
preceding a stated meeting. 



6 

No contract for materials or labor in the erection of the pub- 
lic school-houses is valid, unless sanctioned by the Board of 
Controllers ; and no claim on account of such materials or labor 
will be allowed by the Committee on Accounts, unless approved 
by the Committee on Property of the Board. 

No order for money will be delivered by the Secretary of the 
Board, except to the party in whose favor it is drawn, or his or 
her legal representative. 

The purchase of supplies for the use of the schools is made by 
the Committee of Supplies of the Board of Controllers. Books 
and stationery are distributed from the office of the Board to the 
different schools, upon the written requisition of the Teachers, 
approved by the Directors of the respective schools. 

The details of the school system are managed in the respec- 
tive sections by Directors elected by the City Councils, and the 
Commissioners of the incorporated districts of the county, or in 
the unincorporated districts, elected by the people. 

The First Section is under the charge of a board of fifty-four 
members, elected by the City Councils. The Second Section 
has a board of twenty-four members, elected by the Commission- 
ers of the Northern Liberties. The Third Section has a board 
of eighteen members, elected by the Commissioners of South- 
wark. The Fourth Section has a board of twenty-one members, 
elected by the Commissioners of Spring Garden. The Fifth 
Section consists of the townships of Oxford and Lower Dublin, 
which have each a board of six members, and Moreland and 
Byberry townships, which have each a board of three members, 



elected by the people. The Sixth Section consists of Bristol 
and Germantown townships, which have each a board of three 
members, and Boroughs of Germantown and Manayunk, and 
township of Roxborough, which have each a board of four mem- 
bers, elected by the people. 

The Seventh Section consists of the Borough, now the District 
of West Philadelphia, which has a board of nine members, and 
Blockley and Kingsessing townships, which have each a board 
of six members, elected by the people. The Eighth Section 
consists of Passyunk township, which has a board of six mem- 
bers, elected by the people. The Ninth Section has a board of 
fifteen members, elected by the Commissioners of Moyamensing. 
The Tenth Section has a board of twenty-four members, elected 
by the Commissioners of Kensington. The Eleventh Section 
consists of the townships of North Penn, South Penn, and unin- 
corporated Northern Liberties, which have each a board of three 
members, elected by the people. 

The elections for Directors are made in the incorporated dis- 
tricts of the county between the first and twentieth days of 
March annually, except in the District of Southwark, where they 
are elected between the first and twentieth days of May annu- 
ally, and in the wards, boroughs and townships in the unincor- 
porated parts of the county, at the ward, borough and township 
elections, which are now held by law on the third Friday in 
March annually. 

But one-third of the whole number of the Directors of each 
of the several boards in the first section, are elected annually, 
and they hold their office for the term of three years. 



The Directors of the several sections shall have power to erect 
and establish so many schools as may be determined upon by 
the said Controllers, and shall appoint Teachers, and provide 
all things necessary for m.aintaining and conducting the schools 
in the respective sections, and shall superintend and direct the 
said schools respectively. They appoint, under such regulations 
as the Board of Controllers may direct, such number of visitors 
of the night schools, not exceeding in number the number of 
school directors in each section, as the several Boards of Di- 
rectors may deem expedient. 

The Directors of each section shall meet at least monthly ; 
and the Directors of the several sections are required to divide 
themselves into as many committees' as there may be schools 
established in each section, so that every committee may have 
the management of one school only. Said committees are to 
keep regular minutes of their proceedings. The Directors are 
also required to keep regular minutes of their proceedings, and 
to exhibit them -when demanded; and are also required to 
report the state of their respective schools to the Controllers at 
least once in six months. 

There were at the close of the last fiscal year in the bounds 
of the first district, sixty substantial and commodious school- 
houses, erected expressly for the accommodation of the public 
schools, and reserved exclusively for their use. In these, and 
the various rented rooms occupied by the schools, over forty- 
eight thousand children are annually receiving the benefits of 
education. The course embraces all the useful branches of 
English instruction, and the advancement of the pupils alike 



attest the merits of the method pursued and the ability of the 
teachers. 

The expenses of the public schools, for the last school year 
■were three hundred and sixty-six thousand, three hundred and 
sixty-one dollars and sixty-two cents, of which but about one- 
eleventh part came from the funds of the Commonwealth, and 
the residue was supplied by county taxation. 



December, 1851. 



DIGEST. 



AN ACT 

To proTide for the education of cMldi'en at public expense, within 
the City and County of Philadelphia. 

Passed March 3, 1818. 
Pamphlet Laws, 1817-18, p. 124. 

Wheeeas, The general provisions of the existing 
laws towards "the establishment of schools throughout 
the state in such manner that the poor may be taught 
gratis," and the special provisions made relative to 
the city and county of Philadelphia, have not proved 
to be a public benefit within the said city and county, 
commensurate with the expense incurred by occasion 
of the same : for remedy whereof, 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania^ in Creneral Assembly met, and it is hereby en- 
acted by the authority of the same, That the city and 
county of Philadelphia shall be and hereby are erected 
into a district, for the purposes of this act, to be de- First school 

, . . District. 

nominated " The First School District of the state of 
Pennsylvania," and shall be divided into the following 



12 

sections,and so many other sections as may be establislied 

hereafter, in the manner hereinafter provided : First, 
First Section. ^^^ ^-^^ ^f Philadelphia shall be a section, and shall 

be denominated the First Section. Second, the Nor- 
second Section. ^^^^^^^ Liberties and Kensington shall be a section, and 

shall be denominated the Second Section. Third, 
Third Section. Southwark, Moyamonsing and Passyunk, shall be a 

section, and shall be denominated the Third Section. 
Eourth Section. Fourth, Pcnn Township shall be a section, and shall 

be denominated the Fourth Section. 

The incorporated district of tlie Northern Liberties is now the 
Second Section, the district of Kensington the Tsnth Section, and 
the townships of Unincorporated Northern Liberties and Penn, the 
Eleventh Section. Acts of February 15th, 1832, Section 2, and 
March 7th, 1840, Section 35. 

Moyamensing, the Ninth Section. Act of February 12th, 1827, 
Section 2. 

Township of Passyunk, the Eighth Section. Act of March 20th, 
1821, Section 1. 

Sect. 2. That the Common and Select Councils, 

the Commissioners of the incorporated part of the 

Northern Liberties, the Commissioners of the district 

of Southwark, the Commissioners of the township of 

How directors Moyamonsiug, and the Commissioners of the district 

to be appointed. „ ~ . ^ , , ,, • ,^ 

of Sprmg Garden, shall meet as soon as conveniently 
may be after the passing of this act, in their respec- 
tive districts, and thereafter on some day between 
the first and twentieth days of January, in every year, 
and shall appoint the requisite number of qualified 
^g«^|jj,®°'=''°f^^- taxable inhabitants, residing within their respective 
sections hereby established, to be Directors of the 
Public Schools within every of the respective sections ; 
that is to say, the Select and Common Councils of the 



13 

city of Philadelphia shall, in joint meeting, elect by 

n T T /~i • • Election by bal- 

ballot twenty-four dn^ectors ; the Commissioners of lot. 
the incorporated part of the Northern Liberties shall 
elect twelve directors; the Commissioners of the dis- 
trict of Southwark shall elect six directors; the Com- 
missioners of the township of Moyamensing shall elect 
six directors; and the Commissioners of the district 
of Spring Garden shall elect six directors; and for 
every section hereafter established the number of 
directors designated in the manner hereinafter pro- 
vided ; and shall transmit a list of the names of the List of directors 

.. •Ill 1 to be furnished 

directors so appointed by them, to the county com- to county com- 
missioners, who 
missioners, who shall cause the same to be published are to publish 

' ■•■ same, &c. 

in all the daily newspapers printed and published in 

the said city and county, and shall give personal, i^en^'^irictors 

written or printed notice to every citizen so appointed ; m^nt" appomt- 

for the expenses of which services the said county 

commissioners shall be allowed in the settlement of 

their accounts. 

City of Philadelphia now has fifty-four directors. Acts of Feb- 
ruary 12th, 1827, Section 1, and of March 12th, 1842, Section 1. 

Incorporated Northern Liberties, or Second Section, now has 
twenty-four directors. Act of March 12th, 1842, Section 1. 

District of Southwark, or Third Section, now has eighteen direc- 
tors. Acts of April 10th, 1841, Section 4, and April 15th, 1850, 
Section 5. 

District of Moyamensing, or Ninth Section, now has fifteen direc- 
tors. Acts of March 12th, 1842, Section 1, and April 15th, 1851, 
Section 17. See also Act of February 12th, 1827, Sections 2, 3 and 
4, and note. 

District of Spring Garden, or Fourth Section, now has twenty-one 
directors. Acts of March 12th, 1842, Section 1, and April 9th, 
1849, Section 8. 

Elections of school directors in the several sections of the incorpo- 
rated districts now take place between the 1st and 20th of March, 
in each year. Act of March 12th, 1842, Section 3. Except in 



14 

Third Section, Trhere they take place bet-^v^een the 1st and 20th of 
May, in each year. Act of April 15th, 1850, Section 5. 

School directors of Moyamensing are elected viva voce, and not 
, by ballot. Act of February 25th, 1850, Section 3. 

List of directors now to be furnished to controllers, "who are to 
publish same, and give personal notice to directors of their appoint- 
ment. Act of January 23d, 1821, Section 4. 

Sect. 3. That the said directors for every section 

Number of. t- t n i • • £• 

controllers. shall, immediately after their appointment as aiore- 
said, meet together and elect one suitable person from 
among themselves, for every six directors, to be mem- 
bers of a select body, to be called " The Controllers 
of the Public Schools for the city and county of 
Philadelphia." 

The provisions of this section as to the number of controllers, has 
been changed by the various acts of assembly, fixing the number of 
controllers from each section. 

Controllers are now elected annually on the first Monday in 
July. Act of April 7th, 1848, Section 85, 



Sect. 4. That the directors appointed, and con- 
flc^^of d?recto/s trollers elected as aforesaid, shall continue in office 

and controllers. .i,i •,• o ii ,1c, 

until the expiration oi one calendar month alter a 
new appointment and election shall have taken place ; 
and in case of the death, removal, or resignation of 
any director or controller, from inability to serve, the 
filled. ' directors for the time being of the section in which 
such vacancy may occur, shall have power to elect any 
qualified taxable inhabitant or inhabitants of the sec- 
tion to supply the place of the person so dying, re- 
moving or resigning, as aforesaid. 

Term of office of controllers and directors now expires on the 30th 
of June annually. Act of March 11th, 1843, Section 2. 

The above mode of filling vacancies in Boards of School Direc- 



15 

tors still exists in districts electing directors by the people. Act of 
March 7th, 1840, Section 33. 

Vacancies in the Boards of School Directors in the incorporated 
districts of the county, fiUed by the commissioners of the district. 
Act of January 24th, 1849, Section 10. 

Altered as to Second section, where they are filled by the directors. 
Act of March 29th, 1851, Section 6. 

Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadelphia now fiU 
vacancies. Act of April 11th, 1848, Section 3. 

Sect. 5. That the said controllers of the public i^efol'Soi^ 
schools shall determine upon the number of school- ^^^^' 
houses which shall be erected or established in every numte^^r*^^ 
section under the provisions of this act, and shall &c.°° °^^^' 
limit the expense of erecting and establishing every 
such school-house. They shall have the power to 
establish a model school in order to qualify teachers 
for the sectional schools, or for schools in other parts 
of the state. They shall also have power to provide ^^'^'^^ ^°°^- 
such suitable books as they shall deem necessary, for 
the use of the pupils belonging to the different schools 
within the first district. They shall have the general i^endencroTC'r 
superintendence over all the schools established under 
and by virtue of this act in the said district, and may 
make such rules and regulations for their own govern- re^'^i^attoM ^^'^ 
ment, and for the general regulations of the district, 
as may be deemed necessary for carrying this act into 
complete effect : Provided, That such rules or regu- 
lations shall not be inconsistent with this act, or with 
the constitution or laws of this commonwealth, or of 
the United States. They shall also have power to 
appoint a clerk or secretary, with a salary not exceed- secretary. 
ing two hundred dollars a year. 

Sect. 6. That it shall be the duty of the said con- to examine ac- 

. counts of money 

trollers to examine all accounts of moneys disbursed disbursed for 

w anh nnl h_ 



16 

in erecting, establishing and maintaining the several 
schools established as aforesaid, within the district, 
drarorde?f on and the ordcr of the said controllers upon the county 
siSS/ '^^ treasurer, made at any regular or special meeting, and 
signed by the president and secretary of such meeting, 
for any sum or sums of money necessary for carrying 
this act into complete execution, shall be the said 
county treasurer's authority for paying any such sum 
or sums of money to the person or persons mentioned 
in such order, and the said treasurer is hereby directed 
to pay all such orders accordingly. 

Same duty imposed on controllers subsequently appointed. Act 
of January 23d, 1821, Section 1. 

Controllers not to draw orders on county treasurer for larger or 
other sums of money than shall be specifically appropriated by the 
County Board. Act of April 5th, 1842, Section 6. 



ooatrollers. 



Meetings of Sect. T. That the said controllers shall meet at 

least quarterly, and may call special meetings -when- 

Keep minutes Gvcr the Same may be deemed expedient. They shall 

TOmite.°'^°^'**^ keep regular minutes of all their proceedings, and shall 

Accounts to be keep Tcgular books of accounts, which shall be ex- 

settled annually ,, .. n i 

by the auditors ammcd and settled annually by the auditors oi tne 

of the county. •' •' 

Publish state- county, and shall publish a statement in the month of 
Hu?es°and ™ February in every year of the amount of expenditure, 
in'schoois, i^^ and of the number of children educated in the public 

month of I'ebru- 

arj annually. SChools. 

Controllers to publish annually during the month of July, a state- 
ment of receipts and expenditures. Act of July 26th, 1842, Sec- 
tion 13. 

Sect. 8. Enacted that no order for the payment 
of money should be made at any meeting of the con- 
trollers, unless a majority of their whole number were 



17 

present, and annexed a penalty upon every member 
present at any sucli meeting — which has been changed 
by Act of February 15th, 1832, Section 1. 

Sect. 9. That the said directors, for every section 

Powersanddu- 

respectively, shall have power to erect and establish ties of directors, 
so many schools in their respective sections as may be 
determined upon by the said controllers, as provided 
in the fifth section of this act, and shall appoint Appoint teach- 
teachers, and provide all things necessary for main- "^" 
taining and conducting the schools in their respective 
sections, and shall superintend and direct the said 
schools respectively. And the directors of every sec- 
tion respectively shall meet at least monthly, and shall mo^thi^*^'^^^'^ 
keep regular minutes of their proceedings, and the said 
directors of every section respectively, shall divide 
themselves into as many committees as there may be committees. 
schools established as aforesaid in the particular sec- 
tion, so that every committee may have the manage- 
ment of one school only : And the said committees tee^s^okee™^!- 

,,,,, I . , c ,1 • T ular minutes of 

shall also keep regular mmutes oi their proceedings, their proceed- 
and shall report, or exhibit their mmutes to the direc- 
tors of the section whenever required by the said di- 
rectors so to do. And the directors of every section rep'ort stated 
shall report the state of all the schools within the sec- to controllers 

every six 

tion, every six months, to the controllers aforesaid, months. 
And all the du-ectors of the public schools within the 
said district, shall perform their duties without any 
pecuniary compensation ; and during their term of compeSi^n''^ 
service shall be exempted from serving as jurors, arbi- ^^^^ ^ ^^^^ 
trators, overseers of the poor, or managers of the ro^,"^frbftr^" 

,, ^ , • ,' /» r* •!•,• tors, overseers 

alms house, and, except m time oi war, irom militia ofthepoor, &c., 

and from militia 
duty. duty. 

Sect. 10. Enacted, that the Lancasterian system 
2 



18 

of education should be adopted in the district. Re- 
pealed by Act of June 13tli, 1836, Section 23. 
wSg^BBw'^ Sect. 11. That the Court of Quarter Sessions for 
the said county, upon the petition of twenty respect- 

Petition to • i p i r* 

Court of Quar- ablc taxable citizens, residma; m that part of the first 

ter Sessions of ''-''■ 

twenty citizens, ggiiool district in the said petition particularly men- 
tioned and described, to establish a new school section 
within the said district, the boundaries and limits of 
which section shall be clearly and distinctly described 
and set forth in the said petition, shall appoint some 
day certain, not less than thirty days from the time of 
presenting the said petition, for the hearing of the said 
petitioners, and such persons residing within the first 
school district as may ofier objections to the establish- 
ment of such new section. And the said court shall 

PuiDiicnoticeof (jirect immediate public notice of the substance of such 

Bueh petition, ••• 

point^edforh'e'ar- Petition, and of the time appointed for hearing the 
mg to be given. ^^^^^ ^^ |jg givcn, and also personal notice of the same 
to be given to the president or secretary of the con- 
trollers of the public schools for the said district ; and 
if upon the day appointed as aforesaid, or upon the 
hearing of the said petitioners, no sufficient objections 
shall appear, and the said court shall be of opinion 
that the state of the section petitioned for is such as 
to require and to justify the establishment of one or 
more public school-houses within the same, the said 
court may order and direct that the place designated 

bedeTignatedby and dcscribcd in the said petition shall be a new sec- 
its appropriate . ,,, ii-/ ' , ti 

ordinal nxunber. tiou, to be designated by its appropriate ordinal num- 
natTnumbef of ber. And tho said court shall at the same time desig- 
direotors. ^^^^ ^^^ numbcr of directors to be appointed for such 

Record of said 

bf made *and*° ^®^ scctiou, and shall cause a record of such petition 
wnt'rS and proceedings to be made, and a copy thereof certi- 



19 

fied by the clerk of the said court, under the seal of the 
said court, to be made out at the expense of the peti- 
tioners, and to be delivered to the president or clerk 
of the said controllers of the public schools ; from 
which time the said new section shall be considered 
and held to be established, and to be subject to all the 
provisions of this act. 

Sect. 12. Relating to the duty of Assessors of 
every ward and township to return the names of 
children, &c., &c. Obsolete. 

Sect. 13. That as soon as the school or schools Proceedings 

upon the estab- 

within any section of the said district shall be estab- gcho^T tetany 
lished and ready for the reception of scholars, the ®®''*'°°' 
directors of such section shall give public notice 
thereof. Remainder of section obsolete. 

Sect. 14. That whereas, the plan of education 
before mentioned may be inconvenient to the town- 
ships hereafter named, it therefore becomes proper to 
adopt one better calculated for their local situation. 

Be it therefore enacted, That the townships of Ox- 
ford, Lower Dublin, Byberry and Moreland, shall be 
a section, to be denominated the Fifth Section ; that Fifth section. 
the Court of Quarter Sessions for the said county shall 
appoint twelve respectable taxable inhabitants of the 
said section, to be directors of the public schools within Directors, 
the same ; four for Oxford, four for Lower Dublin, two 
for Byberry, and two for Moreland townships; and 
that the townships of Germantown, Bristol and Rox- 
borough shall be a section, to be denominated the 
Sixth Section; that the Court of Quarter Sessions for sixth section. 
the said county shall appoint eight reputable taxable 
inhabitants for the said section, to be directors of the Directors. 
public schools within the same; four for Germantown, 



20 

two for Bristol, and two for Roxborough ; and that 
the townships of Blockley and Kingsessing shall be a 

Seventh Section goction, to be denominated the Seventh Section ; that 
the Court of Quarter Sessions for the said county shall 
appoint five respectable taxable inhabitants of the said 

Directors. soction to bo dircctors of the public schools within the 

same; three for Blockley, and two for Kingsessing; 

that the said directors shall superintend the schooling 

Powers and ^^ *^^ P°*^^ children within the said district, and deter- 

rectors?^^'*''^'^" DQinG what children may fall within this description, 
and to what school the same may be sent ; and in order 

Expenses. ^^ defray the expenses thereof, the said directors, or 
a majority of them, may draw from the county funds 
such sums as may be necessary for this purpose, in 
the same proportion as may be drawn by other sec- 
tions or school districts for the like purpose ; and the 
assessors within the said sections shall make their 
Assessors to rctums of poor children to the directors before named, 

&c. '' and all and every regulation, matter and thing, con- 

tained in this act, so far as the same may be applicable 
to the special provisions in this section, shall be con- 
sidered as of full force and effect, as much so as if 
specially recited herein. Provided, That in case any 
of the said townships shall chose to avail themselves 
of the provisions of the eleventh section of this act, 
then, and in such case, the Court of Quarter Sessions 
shall proceed as in the said section is directed. 

Townships of Oxford and Lower Dublin, by their qualified electors, 
each to elect six school directors ; and townships of Byberry, More- 
land, and Bristol, in same manner, each to elect three directors. 
Act of March 7th, 1840, Section 32. 

And for the number and election of school directors in townships 
of Germantown, Roxborough, Blockley, and Kingsessing, see same 
section, and acts cited in note thereto. 



21 

Sect. 15. That so mucli of every act of Assembly Repeal, 
relating to the education of the poor, as far as the 
same may affect the said district, as is altered and 
supplied by this act, shall be repealed, and shall cease 
to operate within the several sections in the said dis- 
trict, from the respective time and times when the 
schools established under this act, in the respective 
sections, shall be ready for the reception of scholars, 
and notice given of the same, as is provided in the 
thirteenth section of this act. 

The preceding Act of Assembly is tlie foundation of the present 
public school system of the first district. Since the date of its 
passage its proTisions have been considerably modified, and in some 
respects enlarged. Among other important changes may be par- 
ticularly noticed that by the Act of June 13th, 1836, Section 23, 
the benefits of public education are now extended to all classes of 
the community, without distinction; the mode of instruction is no 
longer limited to the plan commonly called Lancasterian, and a 
Central High School for the more thorough education of pupils of 
the public schools of the first district, has been established. 

Night schools for both sexes are now in successful operation in 
the district, under the provisions of the Acts of March 12th, 1812, 
Section 5, and April 26th, 1850, Section 3. These radical altera- 
tions have been productive of the best consequences. 



A SUPPLEMENT 

To the act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of children 
at public expense within the City and County of Philadelphia." 

Passed January 23, 1821. 
Pamphlet Laws 1820-21, p. 13. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and Souse 
of Representatives of the Commo7iiveaWi of Pennsyl- 
vania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted hy the authority of the same, That it shall be 



22 

Duty of Con- tliG duty of the controllers wlio now are, or who here- 

troUers now or 

hereafter to be after mav hc appointed under the act to which this is 

appointed to ex- •' •'■•'■ 

of^spe'^nserof^ a Supplement, to examine all accounts of the expenses 
iTsh?ng^&"'mai!^- incurrcd in erecting, establishing and maintaining the 
schooif. ^^ " schools which have been or hereafter may be establish- 
ed under the act to which this is a supplement. 

See Act of March 3, 1818, Section 6. 

Sect. 2. Had reference to education of children 
in schools not under care of controllers. Obsolete. 
Controllers to Sect. 3. That from and after the passage of this 
ty'^commisSon- act, it shall bc the duty of the controllers aforesaid, 

ers annually by , , 

first of March, to rcport to thc couutv commissioncrs annually, on or 

amount requir- "^ *^ 

schooV^""' before the first day of March, the amount of money 

which they may deem necessary to defray the expenses 

of the first school district of the State of Pennsylvania, 

County Com- for the currcut year; and the county commissioners 

missioners to as- 
certain per cen- shall, from and after the first day of March annually, 

turn upon the '' '' ^ 

amount of coun- ascertain the per centum upon the amount of the coun- 



re°qui?ed ^J ^^.x wMch will producG the sum required by the 



ty tax, which 
will produce the 
sum 

And give notice controllcrs ; and shall, as soon as maybe, give notice 

thereof to Coun- if., 

ty Treasurer, thercoi to the couuty trcasurcr, who shall open and 

who shall open «/ -' x 

r^tt account for ^^®P ^ Separate account for the controllers ; and as the 
Controllers. ^^^ g]^g^|j j^g ^^^^ ^^ j^-^^ 1^^ ^^^ collcctors, pass to the 

credit of the controllers the amount agreeably to the 
rate per centum fixed by the commissioners, which shall 
be subject to such orders as the controllers may draw 
on the county treasurer, who is hereby directed to pay 
other duties of the Same accordino;ly. And it shall be the duty of the 

County Trea- ^ ° •' *' 

t^'o sa^d'^amounT ^^^^ treasurer to give and take receipts for money so 
received and paid by him, in the same manner as is 
provided by the act entitled "An Act to regulate the 
compensation of the commissioners, to alter the time 



23 

for appointing the treasurer for the county of Phila- 
delphia, and for other purposes." And it shall further 
be the duty of the said treasurer to report to the said 
controllers the state of their account whenever they 
may require him so to do: Provided always. That if ^ ^ „ 

•^ J- • " ' Controllers may 

at any time the said controllers shall deem it expedient I'n^X^Xn 
to borrow any sum or sums of money in anticipation placed toThek^ 
of the sum to be placed to their credit as aforesaid, 
they shall have power to borrow the same from any 
person or persons, or any body or bodies corporate or 
politic, and to pledge the sum so to be placed to their faw sum for^" 
credit for the payment thereof. Provided also, That l^J^^^ 
any sum or sums of money so borrowed shall be, by 
the said controllers, placed in the hands of the county 
treasurer, who is hereby required to receive the same p^^. ^^^^ 
and to pay the same on the orders of the controllers. ^ney°so 1^3® 
And provided also, That if the amount of money that ''°'^'^" 
the controllers may report to the commissioners as 
necessary for the first school district shall not be ex- 
pended in the year for which it may have been appro- ^gj^^^^Po^^ny 
priated, then the surplus shall be considered as form- prfatfonT form 

f, , T , . , f. , 1 T part of estimate 

mg a part oi the estimate tor the succeeding year. of next year. 

County Commissioners required to raise and pay to Coimty Trea- 
surer on first Monday of every montli one-twelfth part of the sum 
necessary to defray expenses of public schools for the current year. 
Act of February 9th, 1835, Section 1. 

Controllers not to draw warrants on County Treasurer for larger 
amount of money than shall be specifically appropriated for the 
same by the County Board. Act of AprU 5th, 18i2, Section 6. 

Sect. 4. That the select and common councils, 
the commissioners of the incorporated part of the 
Northern Liberties, the commissioners of the district 
of Southwark, the commissioners of the township of 



24 

Moyamensing, the commissioners of tlie district of 
to beVaiismit- Spring Garden and the Court of Quarter Sessions, shall 

ted by Councils i o t t p i i • 

andCommis- annuallv, immediately after the election or appomt- 

sioners of dis- •^ ' '' -^ -^ _ 

troUers° ^°'^' i^Gut of the respcctive boards of directors, transmit a 
list of the names of the directors elected or appointed 

Controllers to 

pubushthe i^y them respectively, to the said controllers; who shall 

same m all the '-'J I J ^ ' 

JersVtbe'city causc the samc to be published in all the daily news- 
Phiiadeipma. papcrs printed and published in the city and county 
Personal notice ^^ Philadelphia, and shall give personal, written or 
rectorl!'''''' '^' printed notice to every citizen so appointed; for the 
Expenses. cxpenscs of which services the said controllers shall 
be allowed in the settlement of their accounts. 

Com-t of Quarter Sessions no longer appoint school directors. 
Act of March 7th, 1840, Section 32. 

Sect. 5. That so much of the act to which this is 
Repeal. a Supplement, or of any other act as is hereby altered 

or supplied, be and the same is hereby repealed. 



A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of children 
at public expense, within the City and County of Philadelphia." 

Passed March 20, 1821. 
Pamphlet Laws 1820-21, p. 9T. 
Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in G-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That the town- 
Eighth Section ship of Passyuuk be and it is hereby erected into a 
totS-'^""^ separate school section, to be denominated the Eighth 
Section, and the Judges of the Court of Quarter Ses- 



25 



sions for the city and county of Philadelphia, be and 
they are hereby authorized and required to appoint two 
respectable taxable inhabitants of the said township, 
to be directors of public schools in the same, who shall 
be entitled to all the privileges and immunities, and 
subject to the same regulations as the directors of the 
public schools in the fifth, sixth and seventh sections, 
in the county of Philadelphia. 

Qualified electors of township of Passyimk to elect tkree school 
directors. Act of March 7th, 1840, Section 32. 

Three additional school directors to be elected. Act of March 
11th, 1843, Section 1. 



A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT 

To an Act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of children 
at the public expense, within the City and County of Philadel- 
phia," and for the erection of a school-house in the township of 
Passyunk. 

Passed April 10, 1826. 
Pamphlet Laws 1825-26, p. 295. 

Section 1. Related to the education of children 
in schools not under care of controllers. Now obso- 
lete. 

Sect, 2. Authorized and required the School 
managers of Passyunk township, in conjunction with 
the school directors of said section, to erect on the lot 
on which the Passyunk school-house stood, a good and 
substantial building : Provided, That the cost thereof 
should not exceed iSl,600. 



26 

A SUPPLEMENT 

To the act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of 
children," &c. 

Passed February 12, 182T. 
Pamphlet Laws 1826-27, p. 32, &c. 

Whereas, it is found that by reason of the increased 
number of public schools established within the first 
section of the first school district of the state of Penn- 
sylvania, under the provisions of the Act of March 3d, 
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, the board of 
directors in and for the said section is not sufficiently 
large for the regular performance of the duties as- 
signed to them by the said act : Therefore, 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and 
House of Representatives of the Qommonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, in Creneral Assembly met, and it is 
hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the 
Select and Common Councils of the city of Philadel- 
First section to phia shall clcct annually thirty-six qualified taxable 

have thirty-six ■■■ ^ *< j. 

directors. inhabitants of the said city, as directors of the public 
schools in and for the first section of the first school 
district of the state of Pennsylvania, in the same man- 
ner and form, at the same time, and in all respects 
subject to the same provisions as those now or hereto- 
fore elected by the said councils by virtue of the 
second section of the act entitled " An Act to provide 
for the education of children at the public expense 
within the city and county of Philadelphia," passed 
March third, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen. 

First section now has fifty-four directors. Act of March 12th, 
1842, Section 1. 

Sect. 2. That the township of Moyamensing be 



27 

and it is hereby erected into a separate section of the Ninth section 
public schools for the first school district, to be de- 
nominated the Ninth Section. 

Sect. 3. That the board of commissioners of the o^ryfmeZng 
township of Moyamensing be and they are hereby aiiy^siTschoor 
authorized and required, on the first Monday in Janu- 
ary, in each and every year, or mthin twenty days 
thereafter, to appoint six respectable taxable inhabi- 
tants of the said township to be directors of the public 
schools in the same, who shall be entitled to all the 
privileges and immunities, and subject to the same 
regulations as the directors of the public schools in 
the first, second and third sections, in the city and 
county of Philadelphia. 

Annual elections of school directors in the incorporated districts 
now take place between the 1st and 20th of March. Act of March 
12th, 1842, Section 3. 

See note to 2d section of Act of March 3d, 1818, as to number of 
directors in Ninth Section. School directors of Moyamensing are 
elected viva voce. Act of February 25th, 1850, Section 3. 

Sect. 4. That such part or parts of the second Repeal of such 

parts of second 

section of the said act of the third day of March, one section of Act of 

•^ ' March 3d, 1818, 

thousand eight hundred and eighteen, as are hereby ateed^"^^^^ 
altered or supplied, be and the same are hereby re- 
pealed. 

AN ACT 

To enable the controllers of the public schools for the City and 
County of Philadelphia, and the commissioners of said county, 
to sell and convey certain real estate. 

Passed April 14, 1828. 
Pamphlet Laws 1827-28, p. 458. 
Section 1. Authorized the controllers to contract 



28 

thorized to seT f*^^ *^® ^^1® of *^6 ^0^ of ground situate on north side 
Lombfrrstreet of Lombard street, at tlie distance of 43 feet west 
from Delaware Sixth street, containing in front on 
Lombard street 47 feet, and in length or depth north- 
ward 86 feet, and the county commissioners directed 
to execute the proper conveyance to carry into effect 
such contract. 
Controllers Sect. 2. That the said controllers be and they 
schools for in- are hereby authorized, whenever they shall think 

struction of cMl- * 

dren under five proper to cstablish schools for the instruction of chil- 

years ot age. -^ -•■ 

dren under five years of age, and that the moneys 
expended in the establishment and support of these 
schools shall be provided for and paid in the same 
manner as is now, or shall hereafter be directed by 
law, with respect to the other public schools in said 
district. 

See note to Section 23 of Act of June ISth, 1836. 



AN ACT 

Concerning the AUentown academy, in the borough of Northampton, 
in the county of Lehigh, and for other purposes. 

Passed April 1, 1831. 
Pamphlet Laws 1830-31, p. 338. 

Fifth section to SECTION 2. That the fifth section of the first 

have one con- 

trouer. school district of the state of Pennsylvania shall be 

entitled to one controller of the public schools for the 
have^onrcon^*" ^^^J ^^^ couuty of Philadelphia, and the sixth section 
trouer. ^£ ^^^^ district shall be entitled to one controller in 

eighth'sectioM'^ ^^^^ board, and the seventh and eighth sections of 
together, one. ^^-^ district shall be entitled to one controller in said 
board ; which said additional controllers shall be 



29 

elected from their own numbers, by tbe directors of 
said sections respectively: Provided, That the di- 
rectors of the seventh and eighth sections shall hold a 
joint meeting for the election of a controller from their 
sections, and that after the current year the said ad- 
ditional controllers shall be elected in the month of 
January, annually. 

Controllers now elected on 1st Monday in July, annually. Act of 
April 7th, 1848, Section 35. 

Sect, 3. That the controllers of the public schools havefuperln-*" 
for the city and county of Philadelphia shall have the the'ldditS, 
same power and superintendence over the fifth, sixth, sfctionshere- 

, , . , , . after established 

seventh ana eighth sections, or any other section 
which may be hereafter made in the first school dis- 
trict, as they now have in relation to the other sec- 
tions of said district. 



A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of 
children," &c. 

Passed February 15, 1832. 
Pamphlet Laws 1831-32, p. 80. 

Section 1. Be it enacted ly the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in G-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same. That five mem- 
bers of the controllers of the public schools for the city 
and county of Philadelphia shall constitute a quorum x^J'^^^^}' 
for the making of orders for the payment of money, " » quorum. 



30 

No order for and the traiisactioii of business generally, with this 

payment of <-> " 

S^rat°sjeciai exceptioii, that no order for the payment of money 
rSStrprT shall be made at any special meeting of the board, 
^^^' unless a majority of the whole number be present. 

Incorporated Sect. 2. That from and after the passage of this 
to be the Second act the incorporated district of the Northern Liberties 

Section — one ,. . « , 

controuer. gj^^ll bc a soctiou of the first school district of the state 

of Pennsylvania, to be called the Second Section, and 

shall elect one controller of the public schools; and 

Kensington and that the disti'ict of Keusingtou, and the unincorporated 

N. L. to be the Northcm Liberties shall be a section, to be called the 

Tenth Section — 

one controller. Tenth Scctiou, and shall be entitled to elect one con- 
troller. 

Second Section now has three controllers. Act of March 7th, 
1840, Section 35. 

Tenth Section also has three. Act of March 7th, 1840, Section 
35, and Act of April 10th, 1851, Section 23. 



AN ACT 

To establish a general system of Education by Common Schools. 

Passed April 1, 1834. 
Pamphlet Laws 1833-4, p. 170. 

"Whereas, it is enjoined by the constitution, as a 
solemn duty, which cannot be neglected without a dis- 
regard of the moral and political safety of the people : 
And whereas, the fund for common school purposes, 
under the act of the second of April, one thousand 
eight hundred and thirty-one, will, on the fourth of 
April next, amount to the sum of five hundred and 
forty-six thousand five hundred and sixty-three dollars 
and seventy-two cents, and will soon reach the sum of 



31 

two millions of dollars, when it will produce at five 
per cent, an interest of one hundred thousand dollars, 
which hj said act is to be paid for the support of 
common schools : And whereas, provisions should be 
made by law for the distribution of the benefits of this 
fund to the people of the respective counties of the 
commonwealth : — Therefore, 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Greneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That the city 
and county of Philadelphia, and every other county in School divisions. 
this commonwealth, shall each form a school division, 
and that every ward, township and borough, within 
the several school divisions, shall each form a school School districts, 
district: Provided, That any borough which is or 
may be connected with a township in the assessment 
and collection of county rates and levies, shall, with 
the said township, so long as it remains so connected, 
form a district ; and each of said districts shall contain 
a competent number of common schools, for the edu- 
cation of every child within the limits thereof, who 
shall apply, either in person or by his or her parents, 
guardian or next friend, for admission and instruction. 

The wards, boroughs or townships, within the city and incorpo- 
rated districts of the county of Philadelphia, not to form school 
districts. Act of June 13th, 1836, Section 1. 



Sect. 22. That the county commissioners of each county com- 
county in the commonwealth shall have power to take ™ch°county^to 
and hold, in fee simple or otherwise, any estate, real personal estate 
or personal, which shall be given by any person or schools. 



32 

persons, or bodies corporate, for the use of any school 
division within the said county. 

Title to all property held in trust for or to use of controllers, vest- 
ed in " The Controllers," &c. Act of April 16th, 1845, Section 6. 

Sect. 26. That so much of any act of the General 
Assembly as is hereby altered or supplied, is hereby 
repealed, except the act and its supplements now in 
operation in the city and county of Philadelphia, en- 
titled "an Act to provide for the education of children 
3, isisf coMu?- ^t the public expense within the city and county of 
ren wi '^ Philadelphia," wMch is made coucurrcnt with thc pro- 
visions of this act, and is in no wise to be considered 
as altered, amended or repealed, except so far that the 
City and county citizcus of Said city and county shall be entitled to 
eLiti^d to*'theS receive their due proportion and share of any money 
fund. which may be appropriated out of the school fund by 

the Legislature, in pursuance of the provisions of this 
act. 



A SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of 
children," &c. 

Passed February 9, 1835. 
Pamphlet Laws 1834-5, p. 22. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Gf-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That from and 
after the passage of this act it shall be the duty of 
the commissioners of Philadelphia county, and they 



33 

are hereby required, in pursuance of the duties im- ^^^^^^ "^tT" 
posed upon them by the third section of an act en- county^'^Su- 
titled "A Supplement to an act entitled an Act to day of every mo. 

. one-twelfth part 

provide for the education of children at the public of the sum 

^ ^ necessary for 

expense -ffithin the city and county of Philadelphia," ^g^^Ti"^ '^'"" 
passed on the twenty-third day of January, one thou- 
sand eight hundred and twenty-one, to raise and pay 
in cash, to the county treasurer, on the first Monday 
in every month, one-twelfth part of the sum which the 
controllers of the public schools for the city and county 
of Philadelphia shall annually report to be necessary 
to defray the expenses of the first school district for 
the current year ; and the county treasurer shall forth- 
with, upon the receipt of the said monthly payment as 
aforesaid, pass the same to the credit of the control- j.^r™*^r^cei^t" 
lers, and hold the same subject to the sole and exclu- thHame^to^^ 

T n ,^ • 1 ,n L 1 j_ credit of control- 

sive order oi the said controllers, separate and apart lers. 
from all other county funds. 

Controllers not to draw warrants on County Treasurer for larger 
amount than shall be specificially appropriated for the same by the 
County Board. Act of April 5th, 18i2, Section 6. 



AN ACT 

To consolidate and amend the several acts relative to a general sys- 
tem of education by common schools. 

Passed June 13, 1836. 
Pamphlet Laws 1835-36, p. 525. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commomvealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Gf-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby en- 
acted by the authority of the same, That every town- school districts, 
ship, borough or ward in this commonwealth, not within 
3 



34 

the city and incorporated districts of the county of 
Philadelphia, shall constitute a school district : Pro- 
vided^ That any borough which is or may be connect- 
ed with a township in the assessment of county rates 
and levies, shall with the said township form a dis- 
trict. 
Act of March 3, Sect. 23. That the act and its supplements now 

1818, concurrent 

with this act. in Operation in the city and county of Philadelphia, 
entitled "An Act to provide for the education of 
children at the public expense within the city and 
county of Philadelphia," are declared to be concurrent 
with the provisions of this act, and are in nowise to be 
considered as altered, amended or repealed, except so 

S*Phiiaderwa ^^^ ^^^ '^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ county shall be entitled to 
share ol- manual ^6ceive their due proportion and share of the annual 
tion? °^PP''°P"'^' state appropriation of two hundred thousand dollars : 
Provided^ That the controllers of the public schools 
for the city and county of Philadelphia, be and they 
^ ^ „ hereby are authorized, whenever they shall think pro- 

Controllers au- ^ ^ u i. 

tabhsh1i*cen- P®^7 ^^ cstablish one Central High School, for the full 
for pup1i's^of'°°' education of such pupils of the public schools of the 
first school district as may possess the requisite quali- 
fications, and the moneys expended in the establish- 
ment and support of the said high school shall be pro- 
vided and paid in the same manner as is now or shall 
hereafter be directed by law with respect to the other 
public schools of the said district : And provided fur- 
ther, That so much of the tenth section of the act of 
March the third, A. D. eighteen hundred and eighteen, 
as renders the exclusive use of the Lancasterian sys- 

Lancasterian .ip iii'-ii- 

system no tcm lu thc first school district obligatory upon the con- 

longer obligate- " »' i 

slhooiMitrict trollers and directors, and all such provisions (if any) 
in the said act and the several supplements thereto, as 



35 

limits the benefits of the said public schools to the Benefits of pub- 

I'TT n ' T , , 1 t r> lie schools no 

cmldren ot indigent parents, and so much of any act longer confined 

to children of in- 

as IS hereby altered or supplied, be and the same are digent parents. 
hereby repealed, and in said public schools all children over four years 

of age admitted. 

over four years of age shall be admitted. 

Controllers empoivered to confer Academical degrees upon Gra- 
duates of the Central High School. Act of April 9th, 1849, Sec- 
tion 17. 

Directors not required to admit children tinder six, and have a 
discretion in admitting them between fourteen and sixteen years of 
age. Act of April 11th, 1848, Sections 1 and 2. 



AN ACT 

To divide the township of Germantown into two distinct wards, and 
for other purposes. 

Passed February 27, 1840. 
Pamphlet Laws 1839-40, p. 66. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Cfeneral Assembly met, and it is hereby en- 
acted by the authority of the same, That after the ^f ^eT^Xtwo 
passage of this act the township of Germantown, in '^'^^'^^' 
the county of Philadelphia, shall be divided into two 
separate wards, to be called " Upper and Lower ward ;" 
the Upper ward shall embrace and comprise the citi- 
zens north-west of "Washington lane, in the said town- 
ship,^ &c. &c. The Lower ward shall embrace and 
comprise the citizens residing south-east of said Wash- 
ington lane, &c. &c. 



36 



AN ACT 

Relative to the election of Borough and To'wnship officers, and for 
other pui'poses. 

Passed March 7, 1840. 
Pamphlet Laws 1839-40, p. 80. 

Each ward of Sect. 32. That the qualified electors of each of 
«i^e bOTough of the wards of the township of Germantown, the borough 
phia, townships of Wcst Philadelphia, and the townships of Passyunk, 

of Passyunk, , , , 

Kingsessing, Kingsessinff, Blockley, Unincorporated Northern Li- 

Blockley, Unin- => *=' •" ^ 

KoifS'r^' ^6^*i6S, Bristol, Byberry and Moreland, shall at their 
eachto^ei'e'cT'^' Ward and township election on the third Friday of 

three directors, ix /r n j. • j.i j.i it, 

onthesrdFri- March ncxt, HI the same manner as other ward, bo- 
rough and township officers are elected and returned, 
elect three citizens of each ward or township, to serve 
as school directors, and the qualified electors of each of 
the townships of Penn, (northern and southern,) Rox- 
Townshipsof borough, Oxford and Lower Dublin, shall at the same 

Penn, Koxbo- . . ,.. , ^ . 

rough, Oxford & timc, HI hke manner, elect six persons to serve as 

Lower DubUn, it rni 

each to elect six school dircctors. The directors of each of the wards, 

directors. 

boroughs and townships thus elected, shall meet on the 
first Monday of April, at the hour of ten o'clock, at 
the place of holding the township or district election, 
when the township is divided into more than one elec- 
To divide them- tiou district, and shall divide themselves by lot into 

selves into clas- _ "^ 

ses. three classes ; one-third to serve one year ; one-third 

two years ; and one-third three years ; and the quali- 
fied electors of each of the several wards, boroughs 
and townships first named, shall, at their ward, borough 
or township elections, annually thereafter, in the same 
manner, elect one citizen of the ward, borough or town- 
ship, to serve as school director, and the townships last 
named shall, at the same time and in like manner. 



37 

elect two citizens of the townships to serve as school to hold their 
directors, who shall hold their offices for three years, years. 

For the number of Directors in borough of Germantown, see Act 
of March 16th, 1847, Section 68. 

Borough of Manayunkto elect three directors, and Unincorporated 
part of Koxborough township three also. Act of March 3rd, 1847, 
Sections 4 and 9. An additional director added to each. Act of 
April 7th, 1848, Sections 32 and 34. 

For mode of electing school directors in borough of Frankford and 
township of Oxford, see Act of February 3rd, 1846, Section 34. 

Borough of West Philadelphia now has nine school dii'ectors. 
Acts of March 7th, 1846, Section 15; and of March 14th, 1850, 
Section 4. 

Townships of Blockley, Kingsessing and Passyunk, each now 
have six. Acts of March 11th, 1845, Section 5 ; of March 11th, 
1850, Section 1; and of March 11th, 1843, Section 1, 



Sect. 33. That whenever any vacancy shall occur vacancies to he 

11 TIT IT- filled by remain- 

by any person elected a school director declining to ing directors of 

*' "^ ^ _ ° ^ the ward, ho- 

serve, removins:; from the ward, borough or township, rough, township 

' O 7 O -l^' or election dis- 

or otherwise, the remaining directors of the ward, d^ded!"^^^^'^ 
borough, township, or election district if the township 
shall be divided, shall appoint a citizen to serve in his 
place until another is elected by the qualified voters 
at the next ward, borough or township election. 

See also Act of January 24th, 1849, Section 10. 



Sect. 34. That the directors thus elected shall be sajd directors 
subject to all the laws passed in relation to the school uwfas thoseTf 

, . . f.,^ ■, ■, other sections of 

directors oi the respective sections oi the nrst school first district, 
district. 

Sect. 35. That the directors of each of the several Election of 

controllers. 

sections and combined sections, entitled to elect con- 
trollers, shall meet within their respective districts, at 



38 

such place as is or may be directed by law, on the first 
Monday of April, annually, to elect controllers, and 
that hereafter the directors of the first section shall 
elect six controllers; the directors of the second sec- 
tion three controllers ; the directors of the third, fourth 
and tenth sections, each two controllers; and the di- 
rectors of the fifth, sixth and ninth sections, each one 
controller ; the directors of the seventh and eighth, as 
at present constituted, shall together elect one con- 
troller ; and the townships of unincorporated Northern 
Eleventh Sec- Liberties and Penn shall form a section, to be called 

tion establisnea, ' 

towns°hipso/un. *^® Elcvcnth section of the first school district, and 

LfaMpfi^. ^' the directors thereof shall elect one controller. The 

controllers thus elected shall be subject to all the laws 

passed in relation to the controllers of the first school 

district. 

Controllers are now elected on first Monday in July, annually. 
Act of April 7th, 1848, Section 35. 

First Section now has seven controllers. Act of March 27th, 
1841, Section .2. 

Fourth and Tenth Sections have each three controllers : in the 
former they are elected viva voce. Acts of April 9th, 1849, Section 
12, and April 10th, 1851, Section 23. 

Ninth Section now has two controllers. Act of April 6th, 1850, 
Section 11. 



Sect. 36. That as soon as the directors and con- 
trollers herein provided for shall be elected and organ- 
ized, the term of service of any director and controller 
of the public schools then in ofiFce in the districts thus 
altered or provided for, shall cease ; and all laws that 
conflict with the provisions of this act are hereby re- 
pealed. 



39 

AN ACT 

Relating to the election of School Directors, and to grant insurance 
privileges to the Mechanics' and Tradesmen's Loan Company of 
the State of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes. 

Passed April 11, 1840. 
Pamphlet Laws 1839-40, p. 296. 

Section 2. That the controllers of the public controllers to 
schools of the first school district of Pennsylvania fntTndenror''" 

1 Ti /. i- i j_' 1 • 1 1 ii common schools 

shall, irom time to time, when required by the super- when required, 
intendent of common schools, furnish such reports condition, &c. of 

schools. 

touching the condition and management of the schools 
under their charge, and of the methods of instruction 
practised therein, as he may deem useful for the ad- 
vancement of the system of general education in the 
state. 



AN ACT 

Authorizing the Commissioners of Franklin county to borrow a sum 
of money, and for other purposes. 

Passed March 2T, 1841. 
Pamphlet Laws 1840-41, p. 116. 

Section 2. That hereafter the directors of the First section to 
public schools of the first section of the first school dis- troiierr^" ^°^' 
trict of the state of Pennsylvania shall elect seven 
controllers instead of six. And so much of the thirty- 
fifth section of the act relative to the election of 
borough and township officers, and for other purposes, 
passed the 7th day of March, eighteen hundred and 
forty, as is inconsistent herewith, be and the same is 
hereby repealed. 



40 



AN ACT 

Supplementary to an act entitled "An Act to consolidate and 
amend the several acts relative to a general system of education 
by common schools," passed the thirteenth day of June, one 
thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, and for other purposes. 

Passed April 10, 1841. 
Pamphlet Laws 1840-41, p. 168. 
Section 4. That the board of commissioners of the 

Third Section ,. . „fs, , ,. f>-r»i'iTii- 

to elect nine clistrict 01 feouthwark, 111 the county oi Philadelphia, 

directors. - _ '' -^ ' 

shall hereafter, at the time fixed by law for such elec- 
tion, (instead of six as heretofore,) elect nine citizens, 
who shall be residents of said district, to serve as school 
directors of the third section of the first school district. 

Third Section now has eighteen directors. Act of April 15th, 
1850, Section 5. 



AN ACT 

Relating to the election of county treasurers, and for other 
pui'poses. 

Passed May 2T, 1841. 

Pamphlet Laws 1840-41, p. 402. 

to^be^countr* SECTION 10. It shall uot be lawful for any guardian 
auditor. ^^ ^^^ poor, iuspcctor of the prison, controller of pub- 

lic schools, &c., &c., of any county, to hold the office 
or perform the duties of auditor of such county. 



41 

A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled "An Act to provide for the education of cMldren 
at the public expense vrithin the city and county of Philadelphia," 
passed the third day of ^March, one thousand eight hundred and 
eighteen. 

Passed Marcli 12, 1842. 
Pamphlet Laws, 1842, p. 65. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate a7id House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in G-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That the city of ig ^^dditfon^'"' 
Philadelphia shall hereafter be entitled to eighteen ^''"*°'''' 
additional directors, making the whole number fifty- 
four; the Northern Liberties to twelve additional i2^Tdditfonai°'' 
directors, making the whole number twenty-four ; the 
district of Spring Garden to nine additional directors, g^addiuon^ai^'d?- 
making the whole number, fifteen ; and the district of ''®°^°''^' 
Moyamensing to six additional directors, makins: the Ninth section 

° ' o 6 additional di- 

whole number twelve. rectors. 

See note to Section 2 of Act of March 3d, 1818. 

Sect. 2. That the additional directors authorized Time of electing 
by this act shall be elected before the first day of April, Sectors.' '""^ 
the present year, in the same manner now provided for 
by law in the several districts. 

Sect. 3. That hereafter the annual elections of Annual eiec- 
school directors, in the several sections of the incorpo- (irectors in'the 
rated districts of the first school district, shall take tricts between 

1st and 20tli of 

place between the first and twentieth of March, in ^a'<=^- 
each year. 

Third Section elects directors annually, between 1st and 20th of 
May. Act of April loth, 1850, Section 5. 



42 

Sect. 4. That the said directors elected in the 
year one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, in 
the city of Philadelphia, and in the incorporated dis- 
tricts, shall meet together at their usual places of 
meeting, on the first Monday after their election, and 
divide themselves by lot into three classes, the seats 
of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of 
the first year ; the seats of the second class shall be 
vacated at the expiration of the second year ; and the 
seats of the third class shall be vacated at the expira- 

In city and in- 

ooi-porated dis- tiou of the third year ; and annually thereafter, the 

tricts, one-third %J > t/ •< 

ofnumberofdi- gg]g(3^ and common councils and the commissioners of 

rectors to be 

ejected annual- ^j^^ incorporated districts shall elect one-third of the 
whole number of directors in their respective sections, 

threeyearf ^"^ ^^ scrvc for a term of three years ; and so much of 
any previous act as is hereby altered or supplied, be 
and the same is hereby repealed. 

Commissioners of Kensington and Southwark also to elect one- 
third of their school directors annually. Act of March 11th, 1843, 
Section 3. 

So those of Spring Garden. Act of April 9th, 1849, Section 11. 

Sect. 5. That the controllers of public schools of 
the first school district, be and they are hereby au- 
thorized and directed to cause such of the public 
schools in the said district, as they may deem neces- 
sary, to be opened at night, during the months of 
January, February, March, October, November and 
to open m>M "^^ Doccmber, of each and every year, for the instruction 

schools for male „ , it, 

adults. 01 male adults. 

Controllers authorized to open night schools for females, to fix 
time of re-opening and closing all night schools, and determine age 
at which pupils to be admitted. 

Directors of the several sections to appoint visitors of the night 
schools. Act of April 26th, 1850, Section 3. 



AN ACT 

To authorize tlie citizens of Little Beaver toAvnsliip, in tie county of 
Beaver, to elect two additional supervisors of the highways, and 
for other pui-poses. 

Passed March 18, 1842. 
PampUet Laws 1842, p. 125. 

Section 4. That from and after the third Friday 
in March, one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, . . 

' o %i I Commissioners 

it shall not be lawful for any of the commissioners of diSs'not to 
the incorporated districts within the county of Phila- tors?^°°^ ^^'^ 
delphia, to exercise the duties of school directors and 
commissioners at the same time. 

This section not to apply to school directors elected by the people 
in the county of Philadelphia. Act of April 24th, 18-44, Section 3. 

County Commissioner not to be school director. Act of April 
13th, 1846, Section 3. 



• AN ACT 

In relation to the county of Philadelphia. 

Passed April 5, 1842. 
Pamphlet Laws 1842, p. 238-9. 

Section 6. That from and after the passage of 
this act it shall not be lawful for the controllers of the 
public schools, or the board of health, or the inspec- 
tors of the county prison, to draw warrants for a larger 
or other sum of money than shall be specifically appro- Ire'Sure/foT 

., ,, ... , -, in more than shall 

priated for the same by the said county board, and all be appropriated 

T . ^ ^ -y c^°^ same by 

laws authorizing the said controllers and board of county board, 
health and inspectors of the county prison to draw 
money from the county treasurer, are hereby re- 



Controllers not 
to draw -war- 
rants on county 



44 

pealed : Provided, That nothing herein contained 
shall be construed to prevent the controllers of the 
public schools from drawing from the county treasurer 
any portion of the requisition made by them for the 
present year under existing laws. 

Sect. 9. That the twenty-first section of the act 
seftion'^f'Irt of entitled " An Act relating to the distribution arising 
^ ^^ ' ■ from canals and rail roads, and for other purposes," 
passed the twenty-ninth day of May, one thousand 
eight hundred and forty-one, which provides that the 
auditors of Philadelphia county shall, in addition to 
all other duties now imposed on them by law, audit 
the accounts of the guardians for the relief and em- 
ployment of the poor of the city of Philadelphia, the 
district of Southwark and the townships of Northern 
Liberties and Penn, the accounts of the inspectors of 
the county prison, the accounts of the board of health, 
and of the controllers of the public schools, at their 
respective offices, within ninety days after their fiscal 
years shall have respectively expired, and without 
other compensation than their per diem allowance by 
the county, together with all other acts or parts of 
acts superseded or supplied by the foregoing section 
be, and the same are hereby repealed. And the said 
auditors shall be entitled to receive for auditing the 
accounts of the aforesaid institutions up to and during 
the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, 
the same compensation and in like manner and way 
as they had been paid previous to the passage of the 
aforesaid act. 



45 



AN ACT 

To reduce the capital of the Southern Insurance and Trust Com- 
pany of Philadelphia, and for other purposes. 

Passed July 26, 1842. 
Pamphlet Laws 1842, p. 42T. 

Section 13. That the fiscal year of the county of 
Philadelphia and the fiscal year of the first school dis- 
trict of the state of Pennsylvania, shall end on the ^^^^^^ y^^^ ^f 
thirtieth day of June annually, and the county com- Met."''""'' ^'^' 
missioners shall publish annually, during the month of 
July, a statement of the receipts and expenditures of comity commia- 
the said county, showing the amount of expenditure lisTlnnuau'J' s 

I ^ 1 1 f • ' 1 1 ^ statement. 

under each head oi appropriation made by the county 

board, and in addition the said statement shall contain 

all the items required by the twenty-third section of 

the act of the fifteenth of April, one thousand eight 

hundred and thirty-four, and the controllers of the 

public schools of the first school district shall publish 

annually, during the month of July, a statement of 

the receipts and expenditures, as now provided by controllers to 

law, and the present county board shall continue to fy in' juiy^T'^ " 

, . M 1 ^ 1 f. T statement of re- 

exercise their power until the nrst day oi January, ceipts and ex- 

,.,,,, penditures. 

one thousand eight hundred and forty-three ; and 
hereafter the members of said board shall hold their 
seats and exercise their powers for one year from the Term of office 

n . ■• PT T ,1 • 1 ,• of members of 

nrst day oi January succeeding their election, county board. 



46 

AN ACT 

Relative to scliool directors in the first school district, and for other 
purposes. 

Passed March 11, 1843. 
Pamphlet Laws 1843, p. 78. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and Souse 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Greneral Assembly met, and it is hereby en- 
acted by the authority of the same, That the qualified 
electors of the township of Passyunk, in the county of 
Philadelphia, shall, on the third Friday in March next, 
at the time and place of holding constables' elections, 
eicctthr^"^-*^ ®^®^^ three citizens in addition to the number now re- 
tors"— who^ie*^ quired by law, to serve as school directors, and the 
' ' said directors so elected shall divide themselves into 
three classes in accordance with the provisions of the 
thirty-second section of an act relative to the election 
of borough and township ofiicers, and for other pur- 
poses, passed the seventh day of March, one thousand 
eight hundred and forty, and annually thereafter the 
qualified electors shall elect two citizens to serve as 
school directors. 

Sect. 2. That the present controllers of the pub- 
lic schools of the first school district shall continue in 
office until the first day of July next, and the term of 
ofTcStroUCTl'to service shall thereafter expire on the 30th day of June 
of June°aimuai- annually, and hereafter the said controllers shall be 

ly. 

elected on the first Monday in June annually, in the 
manner now prescribed by law, and the school direc- 
tors of the first school district now in office, shall con- 
Term of service 

of directors to tiuuc in offico Until the first day of July next, and 

expire on 30th •' %/ ' 

o^junejaanuai- annuallj thereafter . the term of service of the said 



47 



directors shall expire on the last of June. Provided, 
That if any directors shall have been elected for the 
year one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, be- 
fore the passage of this act, they shall not take their 
seats or perform any duties as such until the first of 
July next. 

Controllers are now elected on first Monday in July annually. 
Act of April 7th, 1848, Section 35. 



Sect. 3. That it shall be lawful for the commis- commissioners 

of Kensington 

sloners of the districts of Kensington and Southwark, f'^'^,^""*^^^''^ 

O 'to elect one- 

in the county of Philadelphia, to elect one-third of^^^^r of''' 
their number of school directors annually. annually?" °'^' 



AN ACT 

Relating to the Logansville school district, in Green township, 
Clinton county, and for other purposes. 

Passed April 24, 1844. 
Pamphlet Laws 1844, p. 373. 

Section 2. That in every township or borough in tlTo'/dix^ttors 
the county of Philadelphia, which forms a school sec- pieln'^thJtown- 
tion or part of a section, and elects its school direc- roughs of rwia- 

, . delphia county. 

tors by the people, the dn-ectors elected in the town- 
ship or borough shall, from and after the passage of 
this act, have the supervision of all the schools in the 
township or borough, and the appointment or removal 
of all teachers within the township or borough : Pro- 
vided, That no teacher shall be appointed to any 

•^ Examination of 

school unless he or she be found qualified, in a public ^""^^^^ ^° ^^ 



48 

diitctor?*of ^^ examination ordered by the said directors, and shall 
boTough'"'^ he chosen by a majority of the directors of the town- 
ship or borough in which the school is located. 
. . .,, , Sect. 3. That the fourth section of an act, passed 

Act of March ' ^ 



to outer sections. 



l^MtTo^'aSy -^^^^ °^ March, 1842, entitled " An Act to authorize 
^^' the citizens of Little Beaver township, in the county 
of Beaver, to elect two additional supervisors of the 
highways, and for other purposes," shall not apply to 
school directors elected by the people in the county of 
Philadelphia. 



AN ACT 

To provide for the election of commissioners ; for opening and re- 
pairing the public highways in Blockley township, Philadelphia 
county, and for other purposes. 

Passed March 11, 1845. 
Pamphlet Laws 1845, p. 133. 

Section 5. That the qualified citizens of the 
township aforesaid, (viz : Blockley,) shall, at the 
aforenamed time and place, (viz : of holding their 
township election, on the third Friday of March, 

'^i; 1845,) elect three citizens in addition to the number 
ejected iu town- uow required by law, to serve as school directors, and 

ey. ^^^ ^^.^ directors so elected shall divide themselves by 
lot into three classes, — one-third to serve one year, 
one-third two years, and the remaining one-third three 
years ; and annually thereafter the qualified electors 
of said township shall elect two citizens to serve as 
school directors ; and that so much of the acts or parts 



Three addi 
tional school 
rectors to be 



49 

of acts of assembly, as the foregoing acts are intended 
to supply in the township of Blocklej, be and the same 
are hereby repealed. 



AN ACT 

Relating to the controllers of the public schools of the City and 
County of Philadelphia. 

Passed April 16, 1845. 

Pamphlet Laws 1845, p. 502. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commomvealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in General Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted hy the authority of the same, That the present 
controllers of public schools for the city and county of of ^he°''pubirc'^^ 
Philadelphia, and such persons as may hereafter be oorporated. ' 
duly elected, according to the laws of this common- 
wealth, as their successors in ojQfice, be and they are 
hereby made a body politic and corporate in law, with 
all the legal powers and incidents of a corporation 
aggregate, and shall have capacity as such. 

I. To sue and be sued by the corporate name of >'ame. 
"The Controllers of the Public Schools of the First 
School District of Pennsylvania." 

II. To take and hold real estate in fee simple, or Take and hoid 
for any less estate, within the city and county of convey the same 
Philadelphia, and to have power to sell and dispose of 

the same from time to time, in absolute fee simple or 
for any less estate, and to convey the same to any 
purchaser or purchasers free from all trusts : Provided, Proviso. 
That no such real and personal estate shall be taken 
4 



50 

and lield by the said controllers except for public 
school purposes, or such as are directly incident thereto 
by the laws of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

III. The said corporation shall have a common 
seal, which shall remain in the custody of such person 
as shall be prescribed by the by-laws of said corpora- 
tion. 

IV. The said corporation shall have full power and 
ecre ary. authority to clcct a secretary, not one of their own 

body, who shall give such security for the proper per- 
formance of his duties as the by-laws of the corporation 
may require ; they shall also have authority to make 
such by-laws, rules and regulations, as may be neces- 
^ '^^^' sary for their well government. 

V. The said corporation shall have and exercise 
all the privileges and powers, and be subject to all the 

to TOrttin^^icts duties which are now had and exercised by the board 
of Assembly. ^^ controllcrs of public schools of the city and county 
of Philadelphia, and to which the same are subject; 
and all the acts of Assembly relative thereto shall be 
and remain in full force and effect, except so far as 
the same may be expressly altered by the terms of the 
present act. 

VI. That the legal title of all property now held 
Titietoaiipro-]3Y the couimissioners of the county of Philadelphia, 

perty held in •' 

the'ufrorthe or by the county of Philadelphia, or by any person or 
S°this coTpo- persons, body politic or corporate, in trust for or to 
the use of the controllers aforesaid, shall be and the 
same is hereby fully vested in fee simple, or for any 
less estate, as the case may be, in the corporation 
created by the provisions of this act; and the said 
commissioners and county aforesaid, and all other 
persons, are hereby directed to execute and deliver to 



51 

tlie corporation hereby created all proper deeds and ^^^Zel 't^' 
conveyances, for the purpose of transferring the title Tl^to oontroi- 
as aforesaid, together with all pohcies ol insurance and 
muniments of title appertaining thereto. 

Sect. 2. That the Legislature hereby reserves the Keservation. 
right to alter, annul or amend this act, whenever it 
may deem it expedient. 



AN ACT 

Regulating election districts. 

Passed February 3, 1846. 
Pamphlet Laws 1846, p. 23. 

Section 34. That the qualified voters of the said Election of 

school directors, 

borough and township, (to wit : of Frankford and Ox- f/''pj.^^^°™^s^ 
ford,) shall respectively vote for directors of the poor, township of ox- 
auditor of the poor accounts, and school directors, at 
the times now provided by law ; and the judge and 
inspectors of the township of Oxford shall meet the 
judge and inspectors of the borough election on the 
first Monday succeeding such election, at the house 
now occupied by Charles Lewis, in said borough, at 
ten o'clock in the forenoon, and the said judges and 
inspectors shall then and there add together the num- 
ber of votes given at each of the above named polls 
for directors of the poor, auditor of poor accounts, and 
school directors, and those persons having the highest 
number of votes shall be retui-ned by said judges ac- 
cordingly; and the said judges and inspectors shall 
make out and sign a certificate to each person elected 
as aforesaid, to be delivered by the constable of said 
borough, according to existing laws. 



52 



AN ACT 

Regulating election districts. 

Passed March 7, 1846. 
Pamphlet Laws 1846, p. 87. 

Three additional SECTION 15. That the qualified electors of the 
to be elected in borouffh of Wcst Philadelphia, in the county of Phila- 

borough of West 

phuadeiphia. delphia, shall, on the third Friday m March, at the 
time and place of holding constables' elections, elect 
three citizens in addition to the number now required 
by law, to serve as school directors; and the said 
directors so elected shall divide themselves by lot into 
three classes; one-third to serve one year, one-third 
two years, and the remaining one-third, three years; 
and annually thereafter the qualified electors shall 
elect two citizens to serve as school directors for the 
term of three years. 

Number now increased to nine. Act of Marcli 14th, 1850, Section 4. 



AN ACT 

To authorize the trustees of the Reading Academy to transfer the 
said academy to the school directors of the borough of Reading, 
and for other purposes. 

Passed April 13, 1846. 
Pamphlet Laws 1846, pp. 304-5. 

County com- Section 3. That no county commissioner for the 
te^^ooidirec- county of Philadelphia, shall be eligible to serve as 
guardian of the poor, member of the board of health, 
or director of the public schools, during his continu- 
ance in oifice. 



53 

AN ACT 

Autliorizing the school directors of Mahonmg township, in the 
county of Columbia, to seU certain real estate, and for other 
pui'poses. 

Passed April 17, 1846. 
Pamphlet Laws 1846, p. 365. 

Sections. That from and after the passage of this p^^eranddu- 
act, the school directors elected for the township of rJ^torV rf" eo^'x'- 
Koxborough, in the county of Philadelphia, and those swp."^ 
who may hereafter from time to time be elected school 
directors for the said township, be and they are hereby 
authorized and empowered to perform all the duties 
heretofore performed by the trustees of the Roxborough 
school house, situate on Ridge turnpike, between the 
six and seven miles stones, in the said township, in the 
county of Philadelphia. 



AN ACT 

To transfer a certain lot and building to the controllers of public 
schools, in the first school district, composing the City and County 
of Philadelphia. 

Passed January 30, 1847. 
Pamphlet Laws 1847, p. 60. 

Whereas, A certain Andrew Allen, and Maria his preamwe. 
wife, by a certain deed of indenture, bearing date the 
fifth day of February, Anno Domini 1798, recorded in 
deed book L W., No. 7, page 21, &c., granted and con- 
veyed a certain lot or piece of land, situate in the 
township of Germantown, in the county of Philadel- 
phia, at Mount Airy, containing one-quarter of an acre 



54 

and eight perches of land, more or less, unto Henry 
Sweyer, Joseph Miller, and Jonathan Yerkes, in trust, 
for the use of the neighborhood in general, to be a 
place for any English school, and for no other purposes : 
And whereas, The said trustees having deceased, 
new trustees were elected by the inhabitants of said 
township, from time to time, to carry out the intention 
of the donor: 

And whereas, It is desirable that said lot of ground 
should be vested in the Board of Controllers for the 
first district of public schools : therefore, 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and Souse 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Cf-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same. That Jacob Derr, 
Trustees f ^^^^^^ Wolf, William H. Smith, Henry K. Paul, 
school! in town- William Katz, Joseph Carr, Jesse Hinkle, Jacob H. 
town°t^oonTCy Smith, and Charles Gorgas, trustees elect of Mount 

lot whereon the ». ii-.i, ^ • p rA , c • -t 

same is erected, Airy school, m tho towuship 01 (icrmantown aioresaid, 

to controllers of ..„, , , ,, ,. 

public schools, or a majority of them, be and are hereby authorized 
to grant and convey the lot of land, and buildings 
thereon erected, with the appurtenances, unto the con- 
trollers of the public schools of the city and county of 
Philadelphia, composing the first school district of 
Pennsylvania, as before described in the preamble to 
this act, under and subject to the provisions of the 
deed of conveyance aforesaid, and for the uses and 
purposes therein stipulated and contained, in fee sim- 
ple, to them and their successors for ever. 



55 



A FURTHER SUPPLEMENT 

To an act to incorporate the borough of Manayunk, and to separate 
the township of Eoxborough therefrom. 

Passed March 3, 1847. 
Pamphlet Laws 1847, p. 215. 
Section 4. The qualified voters of the said borough Election of z 

^ school directors 

shall, at the time and place aforesaid, (to wit : the time ^"^ Manayunk. 
and place of holding the borough election in the year 
1847,) elect three citizens, who shall be residents of 
the borough, as directors of public schools; one to 
serve for one year, one for two years, and one for 
three years; they shall also elect three citizens mana- 
gers for the relief and employment of the poor; one 
to serve for one year, one for two years, and one for 
three years ; and annually thereafter they shall elect 
one citizen for each of the above specified offices, to 
serve for three years, in accordance with existing laws 
of this commonwealth, regulating the election of town- 
ship officers. 

An additional school director authorized. Act of April 7th, 1848, 
Section 32. 



Sect. 9. That the qualified voters aforesaid, (viz : 
of the unincorporated part of the township of Rox- 
borough,) shall elect as aforesaid, (viz: on the third Townshipof 

. .. Eoxborough to 

Eriday m March. 1848.) three citizens directors of elect three di- 

*' _ ' rectors. 

the public schools, one to serve for one year, one for 
two years and one for three years ; they shall also 
elect three citizens managers for the relief and 
employment of the poor, &c., &c. ; and annually 



56 

thereafter, they shall elect one citizen for each of the 
above specified offices, to serve for three years, in ac- 
cordance with the existing laws of this commonwealth, 
regulating the election of township officers. 

An additional school director authorized. Act of April 7th, 1848, 
Section 34. 

AN ACT 

Regulating election districts. 

Passed March 16, 1847. 

Pamphlet Laws 1847, p. 428. 

Section 68. That hereafter the borough of Ger- 
mantown, in Philadelphia county, shall be a separate 
and distinct election district for all election purposes 
whatsoever ; and that the legally qualified voters of 
said borough shall elect, at the election to be held on 
the nineteenth day of March, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and forty-seven, and annually thereafter, one 
assessor and two assistant assessors, whenever required 
by existing laws, one ward or township constable, one 
town clerk, four managers of the poor, four auditors 
Number of di- and two school dircctors ; and at the expiration of 

rectors in bo- ' J- 

mTntown!^*'^' ©vcry third year thereafter, two school directors shall 
be elected ; and the polls in said election district shall 
be kept open until 10 o'clock, P. M. ; and that the 
seventy-seventh section of the act entitled " An Act 
regulating election districts," approved the seventh day 
of March, one thousand eight hundred and forty-six, 
and all acts and supplements conflicting with the pro- 
visions of this section, be and the same are hereby re- 
pealed. 

Since the passage of the above act, the borough of Germantown 
has annually, for two years, elected one school director, and at the 



57 



expiration of every third year has elected two, thus giving said 
borough four directors. 

This it is alledged and believed was the design of the act, and 
appears to have been so understood in the Sixth section. The above 
has been compared -with a certified copy of the act, and is correct. 



AN ACT 

Regulating election districts, and for other purposes. 

Passed April 7, 1848. 
Pamphlet Laws 1848, pp. 36T, 368. 

Section 32. That the qualified voters of the 
borough of Manayunk, in the county of Philadelphia, 
shall, at the next ensuing spring election after the 
passage of this supplement, elect an additional over- 
seer of the poor and an additional school director, to scifooiS'toT^ 
serve for the same period that those officers are now tL^borough of 
authorized hj law to serve within the said borough, ^''^^''^' 
and shall from time to time so elect, when and as often 
as the terms for which said officers shall have been 
elected, shall expire ; and that until the first election 
for such additional overseer of the poor and school 
director shall be held, the said town council shall have 
power to appoint said additional officers. 

Sect. 34. That the qualified electors of the town- 
ship of Roxborough shall, on the third Friday of March 
next, elect one suitable person for school director of ^n additional 

, school director 

said township, m addition to the one now authorized ^2 ^? ''^""^^^ '°, 

'■ v^ v^v-i. ^]jg township of 

by law to be elected ; and that tri-annually hereafter, »°^^°'^°'^g'i- 
the electors of said township shall elect two persons of 
said township to fill said office : Provided, That the 
present school directors in said township shall have 



58 

power to appoint a person to serve as school director 
for the present year, and until one is elected and quali- 
fied under this act. 

Sect. 35. That the directors of the public schools 
of the several sections of the first school district, shall 

Controllers to 

be elected on hcrcafter meet on the first Monday in July in each 

first Monday in ./ ./ 

""^^" and every year, and elect the controllers of the public 

schools for the city and county of Philadelphia, in the 
same manner as controllers are now elected by law. 



AN ACT 

Relative to the Wills hospital for the relief of the indigent blind 
and lame, and for other purposes. 

Passed April 11, 1848. 

Pamphlet Laws 1848, p. 504. 

Section 3. That hereafter, when any vacancy or 
vacancies shall occur in the board of school directors 
of the first section, first school district of Pennsylva- 
nia, it shall be the duty of the secretary of the board 
to notify the select and common councils of the city 
n^on'^co^unciis'of of Philadelphia of the fact, and said vacancy or vacan- 
fiu vacancies in cics shall be filled by said select and common councils 

board of school 

directors of first in loiut mcetinff, as soon thereafter as may be con- 
section, tl O^ x/ 

venient ; and that so much of any law or laws as con- 
flicts with the provisions of this section, be and the 
same is hereby repealed. 



59 



AN ACT 

Relative to public schools. 

Passed April 11, 1848. 
PampWet Laws 1848, pp. 526, 527. 

Section 1. Be it enacted ly the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- Directors mist 
vania, in Creneral Assembly met, and it is hereby en- ntt^eqliSed to 
acted by the authority of the same, That the directors under the agTof 

/> 1 111- ^^ years. 

01 the several school sections of the city and county 
of Philadelphia, shall not be requii'ed to admit children 
into the public schools -who are under the age of six 
years ; and that so much of any law or laws as is in- withSd toe7 

. , , , „ . tors to admit 

consistent witn the loregomg, be and the same is here- p^p^^^ between 

the ages of four- 
by repealed. teen and sixteen 

'' ■*■ years. 

Sect. 2. That the said directors as aforesaid may. Twenty mem- 
at their discretion, admit into the said public schools schoof cHreeto?s 
pupils between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years, tion, "shall ^n- 

O o rm 1 f» stitute a quo- 

bECT. 6. Ihat hereafter twenty members of the ™™- 
board of school directors of the first section, first school ^?^tl \°^Z^^^ 
district of Pennsylvania, shall constitute a quorum ; memw"''*' °^ 
and the board shall have power to make by-laws, vaca- 
ting the seats of members who do not give proper at- 
tention to the duties of their office. 

Sect. 6. That so much of any law or laws as are ^^ ^^j 
by this act altered or supplied, are hereby repealed. 



60 

AN ACT 

For the regulation and continuance of a system of education by 
common schools. 

Passed April 7, 1849. 
Pamphlet Laws 1849, pp. 441, 448, 449. 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House 
of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in G-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That a system 
of common school education be and the same is here- 
by deemed, held and taken to be adopted according 
to the provisions of this act, in all the counties of this 
commonwealth, and every township, borough or ward 
in this commonwealth shall constitute and be a school 
district; but any borough which is or may be con- 
nected with a township in the assessment of county 
rates and levies, shall with the said township form one 
propriSTon of^' district, and the sum of two hundred thousand dollars 

$200,000 as a . , , ,, . , i i 

commoa school IS hereby annually appropriated as a common school 
fund, to be apportioned as hereinafter prescribed : 
Provided, That the provisions of this act shall not 
extend to the city and county of Philadelphia. 

ent rnnuTiiy°m Sect. 32. The Superintendent of common schools 

April, to trans- , i « a -i • ^ 

mit to county shall annuallv, in the month of April, transmit to the 

commissioners a •' •"■ 

statement of commissioncrs of each county, a statement of the 

amount due. •' ' 

amount every district therein may be entitled to re- 
ceive out of the annual appropriation of two hundred 
Commissioners *^o^s^^<^ dollars, and the commissioners shall imme- 
statement^hree diatcly causc sucli Statement to be printed three times, 

times in news- . ........ 

papers. lu ono Or more newspapers published m said county. 

Sect. 33. It shall be the duty of the commissioners 
of each county, to ascertain triennially, with the as- 



61 

sistance of the respective assessors, the exact number county com- 

f. , , - . . missioners to 

ot tlie taxable citizens of each school district in their "'f'"' *"''J'°'''^ 

vi-L>^j.i returns of imin- 

several counties, and to certify the same under their suSnde'nt" 
hands and seals of office to the superintendent of com- Hp'oX^^' 
mon schools, who is hereby directed to adopt the num- ^''isso.^^'''^ 
ber of taxables thus certified to him, as the basis of 
distribution of the state appropriation, which said cer- 
tificates shall be prepared and transmitted on or before 
the first day of April in every third year, commencing 
with the first day of April one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty; and if the commissioners of any county 
shall neglect to forward such certificates on or before codSifnet?' 
said day, the superintendent may in such case, adopt tTa^opt next"* 
the number of taxables set forth in the next preceding IZT^^^^ 
certificate or return. 

Sect. 35. The act and its supplements now in u^J^Mif, 
operation in the city and county of Philadelphia, en- Slnte'Zctt 
titled "An Act to provide for the education of chil- a«t* "^'^^ *^ 
dren at the public expense within the city and county 
of Philadelphia," are declared to be concurrent with 
the provisions of this act, and are in no wise to be con- 
sidered as altered, amended or repealed, except so far 
that the said city and county shall be entitled to re- 
ceive their due proportion and share of the annual of*PhiiShia 
state appropriation, nor shall any thing contained in ?ropi{¥^ 
this act be deemed and taken to alter, or in any man- pro°pditiof '^ 
ner to interfere with the system of public schools now 
in operation in the said city and county. 



AN ACT 

To authorize tlie school directors of the borough of Pottsville to sell 
certain real estate, and for other pm-poses. 

Passed April 9, 1849. 
Pamphlet Laws 1849, p. 502. 

Spring Garden SECTION 8. That the district of Spring Garden, in 
ditionai direc- the countv of Philadelphia, shall hereafter be entitled 

tors, making "^ 

whole number ^q six additional directors of public schools, making 

the whole number twenty-one. 
The additional Sect. 9. That the additional directors authorized 

directors to be 

elected tiefore i^y i[-^[^ ^ct, shall be olocted before the first day of 

Istof June, Ii5i9 J ' >' 

June, the present year, in the same manner now pro- 
vided for by law in the several districts, 
befnf'baiiotted Sect. 10. That hereafter all candidates for school 
tora^of "spring dircctors to be balloted for by the board of commis- 
nominated at sloncrs of Spring Garden, shall be placed on nomina- 

the previous sta- _ 

ted meeting of ^ion at the prcvious stated meeting of the board of 

board of com- -i ^ 

™iddistrict°^ commissioners of said district, and all nominees and 
Said directors all dircctors of said sectional board shall be residents 

to be residents , . . 

of ith section. 01 the Said soction. 

Sect. 11. And the said directors elected in the 
year 1849, in the fourth section, shall meet at the 
usual place of meeting on the first Monday after their 
election, and divide themselves by lot into three 
classes ; the seats of the first class shall be vacated at 
the expiration of the first year, the seats of the second 
Commissioners ^^j^gg ^zSS. be vacatcd at the expiration of the second 

of said district ^ 

erertrae-twrd year, and the seats of the third class shall be vacated 
ber'^'rdirertOTs" at the expiratiou of the third year ; and annually 

to serve 3 years. 



63 

thereafter the commissioners of said district shall elect 
one-third of the whole number of directors of said sec- 
tion, to serve a term of three years. 

Sect. 12. That the directors of public schools of ^Aofi directors 

■■■ of 4th section to 

the fourth section of the first school district, shall meet SondaTm^Juiy, 

on the first Monday in July in each and every year, t^e a^'^controi- 

and elect viva voce three controllers of the public 

schools for the city and county of Philadelphia, in the 

same manner as controllers are now elected by law; 

and so much of any previous act as is hereby altered 

or supplied, be and the same is hereby repealed. Repeal. 



A SUPPLEMENT 

To an act relative to the vendors of mineral waters, and for other 
pui'poses. 

Passed April 9, 1849. 

Pamphlet Laws 1849, p. 52T. 

Section 17. That the controllers of the public controllers 
schools of the first school district of Pennsylvania, confer academi- 

"^ cal degrees upon 

shall have and possess power to confer academical ^^^^^^^1'^°"'^'' 
degrees in the arts, upon graduates of the Central ^^^°°^- 
High School, in the city of Philadelphia, and the same detieei!°°°'''"'^ 
and like power to confer degrees, honorary and other- 
wise, which is now possessed by the University of 
Pennsylvania. 



Vacancies in the 



64 

AN ACT 

Authorizing the commissioners of the incorporated districts of the 
Northern Liberties and KensiQgton to open a street, to be called 
Delaware Avenue, and for other purposes. 

Passed January 24, 1849. 

Pamphlet Laws 1849, p. 681. 

Section 10. That from and after the passage of 
di'rMtors^in'The *^^^® ^^*> whenever a vacancy occurs in any board of 
distriete'^to'^ be school directors in the incorporated districts in the 
commissioners countv of Philadelphia, it shall be the duty of the 

of the district. . "^ . 

secretary of such board of school directors to give 
notice to the board of commissioners of the section in 
which the vacancy occurs, and the said board of com- 
missioners shall fill the vacancy : Provided, That the 
provisions of this section shall not apply to districts 
electing school directors by the people. 

Repealed as to Second Section, by Act of March 29th, 1851, 
Section 6. 



AN ACT 

In relation to certain school districts, and for other purposes. 

Passed February 25, 1850. 

Pamphlet Laws 1850, p. 100. 

School directors SECTION 3. That SO much of the second section of 

ofMoyamensing • -i p ^ i • f ^ •^ -i it 

to be elected wm an act to providc tor the education oi children at public 

voce. 

expense within the city and county of Philadelphia, 
passed March 3d, 1818, as requires the board of com- 
missioners of the district ofMoyamensing, in the county 
of Philadelphia, to elect by ballot school directors, be 



65 



and the same is hereby repealed ; and hereafter the 
school directors, and all other officers elected by said 
board of commissioners, shall be elected viva voce. 



AN ACT 

To authorize the election of additional school directors in the 
to-wnship of Kingsessing, in the county of Philadelphia, &c. 

Passed March 11, 1850. 
Pamphlet La-vys 1850, pp. 154-5. 

Section? 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and Souse 
of Representatives of the Commomvealth of Pennsyl- 
vania, in Greneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authoritii of the same. That the quali- Three addi 

^ "^ "^ ' ^ tional school 

fied electors of the township of Kinsrsessina:, in the directors in 

••■ O o" township of 

county of Philadelphia, shall on the third Friday in SSld° 
March, instant, at the time and place of holding con- 
stables' elections, elect three citizens, in addition to 
the number now required by law, to serve as school 
du-ectors ; and the said du-ectors so elected shall divide 
themselves by lot into three classes ; one-third to serve 
for one year, one-third, two years, and the remaining 
one-third for three years ; and annually thereafter the 
qualified electors shall elect two citizens to serve as 
school directors, for the term of three years. 



66 



A SUPPLEMENT 

To an act to incorporate tlie borough of West Philadelphia, approved 
the seventeenth of February, Anno Domini one thousand eight 
hundred and forty-four. 

Passed March 14, 1850. 
Pamphlet Laws 1850, pp. 215, 216. 

Section 1. Changes and enlarges the boundaries 
of the borough of West Philadelphia, and describes the 
same. 

Sect. 3. Divides said borough, as enlarged, into 
three wards, and describes the limits of each. 
BorougiiofWest Sect. 4. That the citizens within each of the said 
elect nine school wards Qualified to vote for members of the General 

directors. in i i • i i 

Assembly of this state, shall on the days now provided 
by law for the election of borough officers, and at such 
places as are hereinafter designated, elect for each 
ward by a majority of votes, four councilmen, who, 
before entering upon the duties of their respective 
offices shall determine by numbers, one and two to be 
drawn, which numbers shall designate and determine 
the number of years each person so elected shall serve, 
and also three school directors, whose term of service 
shall be determined by numbers one, two and three, to 
be drawn in like manner, and annually thereafter they 
shall elect for each ward two councilmen, to serve 
two years each, and one school director to serve three 
years each, &c., &c. : P^'ovided, That the duties, 
vious 'mrectoS powcrs and authorities of the school directors of the 
present borough of West Philadelphia shall cease and 
determine upon the organization of the directors elected 



67 



in pursuance of this act, Tvliich organization shall take 
place at the time now provided by law, at which time 
theu' duties as school directors shall commence. 

The name of the borough of "West Philadelphia changed to that of 
" The District of West Philadelphia." Act of April 3d, 1851, Sec- 
tion 1. 



AN ACT 

For the sale of certain school houses in Lebanon and Lancaster 
counties, and for other piu'poses. 

Passed April 6, 1850. 
Pamphlet Laws 1850, p. 345. 

Section 11. That hereafter the directors of the 
public schools of ninth section, of the first school dis- tolect'twl'^co™ 
trict of the state of Pennsylvania, shall elect two con- of'one! ™'**^'^ 
trollers instead of one; and so much of thirty-fifth 
section of the act relative to the election of borough 
and township oflficers and for other purposes, passed 
the seventh day of March, 1840, as is inconsistent 
herewith, be and the same is hereby repealed. 



AN ACT 

To repeal the fii'st and second sections of the Act of the fifteenth of 
March, 1847, entitled " An Act to reduce," &c. ; and for other pur- 
poses." 

Passed April 15, 1850. 
Pamphlet Laws 1850, p. 457. 

Section 5. That the commissioners of the district 
of Southwark shall, between the first and twentieth 



68 

Commissioners (j^y of Mav, A. D. One thousand eie-ht hundred and 

of Southwark to "^ "^ ' " 

tionii'l^hoofdi- fifty, elect nine additional directors of the public 
section. ""^ ^^ schools for the third section, first school district of 
Pennsylvania ; and the said additional directors to be 
elected as aforesaid, shall before entering upon their 
duties, determine by lot from among their number the 
three directors whose terms of service shall expire on 
the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and 
fifty-one, and the three directors whose term of service 
shall expire on the thirtieth of June, one thousand 
eight hundred and fifty-two, and the three directors 
whose term of service shall expire on the thirtieth of 
June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-three ; 
and it shall be the duty of said commissioners of 
be elected be Southwark, betwceu the first and twentieth of May, 

tween the 1st & ' _ ^ ^ *" 

20th of May, an- ^Q elcct annuallv six directors of public schools for the 

nually. •' ■■■ 

said section, to serve for three years ; the first annual 
election of said six directors shall be held between the 
first and twentieth of May, one thousand eight hun- 
dred and fifty-one, instead of the time now fixed by 
law. 



AN ACT 

To authorize Jolin Kaiiffman, trvistee, &c. ; and for other pm-poses. 

Passed April 26, 1850. 
Pamphlet Laws 1850, p. 591. 

„. , ,,^ Section 3. That hereafter the boards of directors 

Directors of the 

tricVaut°hor1zed ^^ ^^^^ publlc schools of the several sections of the first 
torsTi'ighl''' school district of Pennsylvania, shall have authority 
to appoint, under such regulations as the board of con- 
trollers may direct, such number of visitors of the night 



69 

schools, not exceedine; in number the number of school Number of visi- 

' o tors not to ex- 

directors in each section, as the said boards respec- sc^ooi'directors 
tively may deem expedient. The board of controllers "^ ^'^^^ 
shall prescribe the duties of said visitors of night esteWisiTS^?' 
schools; shall have power to establish night schools males* ex time 

„ , . „ . . of re-opening 

for females ; to fix the time for re-openmg and closing and dosing of 

' rot) allnieht schools 



allnight schools, 

mine the age at which 
pupils may be admitted therein. 



of all night schools, and determine the age at which ^'^^ determine 



age of pupils to 
be admitted. 



Trustees of 



A SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled "An Act to erect the village of Oxford, &c.; 
and for other pui'poses. 

Passed April 30, 1850. 
Pamphlet Laws 1850, p. 647. 

Section 16. That Jonathan Robeson, Samuel 
Wagner, James C. Kempton, and such other persons 
as may be the trustees of the school known as " the ?°^f o^^ "'^^?°^ 

•^ m Manayunk, 

Robeson school," in the borough of Manayunk, in the^',°Xtor 
county of Philadelphia, and appointed under and by 
virtue of a certain deed of trust of Peter Robeson and 
others, dated the twelfth day of May, Anno Domini 
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five, be and 
the same persons, or their successors, are hereby au- 
thorized and empowered to, and as soon as convenient 
after the passage of this act, shall convey, by good and 
sufficient conveyances in the law, the academy build- 
ings and lot of ground thereto belonging, situate on 
the south-westerly side of the Manayunk and Flat 
Rock turnpike, in the borough of Manayunk, and 
commonly known as the Robeson school, more par- 



70 

ticularly described in the said deed of trust heretofore 
and now held by the said trustees, to the controllers 
of the public schools of the first school district of Penn- 
sylvania, and their successors, to be held by them for 
the same uses and trusts as are recited in the said 
deed of trust. 

Sect. IT- That from and after the passage of this 
Powers of said act, the school dircctors elected for the borough of 
inThrschooi'^cii- Manayunk, in the county of Philadelphia, and those 
rough of Manar who may hereafter from time to time be elected school 
directors for the said borough, be and the same are 
hereby authorized and empowered to perform all the 
duties heretofore performed by the trustees of the said 
Robeson school, in the said borough of Manayunk, 
under and subject, nevertheless, to the provisions of the 
act of assembly passed the thirteenth day of June, 
Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty- 
six, entitled " An Act to consolidate and amend the 
several acts relative to a general system of education 
by common schools," and the supplements thereto. 



AN ACT 

To repeal tlie Twentieth Section of An Act in reference to the Bank 
of LeAvistown, and for other pm-poses. 

Passed May 6, 1850. 

. Pamphlet Laws 1850, p. 704. 

Board of school SECTION 4. That tlic board of directors of public 

directors of the ^ 

iSmTy mfie" schools of the incorporated districts in the county of 
ting^'^atlor Philadelphia, shall have power to make by-laws for 

vacating the seats of members, who do not give proper 

attention to the duties of their ojffice. 



71 

AN ACT 

To change the name of the borough of West Philadelphia to the 
district of West Philadelphia, and for other pui-poses. 

Passed April 3, 1851. 
Pamphlet Laws 1851, p. 302. 
Section 1. Be it enacted hy the Senate and House ^ ^^'?*'°/*^! 

"■ Borough of West 

of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 1^^^^^^"" 
vania, in Gf-eneral Assembly met, and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That from 
and after the first day of July next, the municipal 
district, incorporated by an act of assembly passed 
February 17th, 1844, by the name and title of " The 
Borough of West Philadelphia," shall be known by 
the name and title of " The District of West Phila- 
delphia ;" and the name of the councilmen shall be 
changed to that of commissioners, and that of burgess 
to president of commissioners, and they shall have 
all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions 
conferred by existing laws on the burgess and town 
council. 



AN ACT 

To incorporate the Stout's Ferry Bridge Company, &c., andfor 
other purposes. 

Passed May 15, 1850. 
Pamphlet Laws 1851, p. 862. 

Section 15. The commissioners of the Kensinsrton Tenth section 

to elect twelve 

district of the Northern Liberties, in the county of ^<^^'*'°^?i , 

^ V school directors. 

Philadelphia, at the next annual election in one thou- 



72 

sand eight hundred and fifty-one, for school directors 
of the tenth section of the first school district, shall 
elect twelve school directors in addition to the number 
now authorized by law, so that the board of school 
directors for said tenth section shall consist of twenty- 

Whole numlier 

twenty-four, four members; and of the additional directors to be 
chosen as aforesaid four shall serve three years, four 
shall serve two years, and four shall serve one year, 
and annually thereafter said commissioners shall elect 
eight school directors, who shall serve for the term of 
three years. 



A SUPPLEMENT 

To an act entitled "An Act to incorporate," &c., and for other 
purposes. 

Passed March 29, 1851. 
Pamj)hlet Laws 1851, p. 286. 

School directors SECTION 6. That from and after the passage of this 
to mi°vacancies! ^ct, it shall bc lawful for the board of school directors 
of the second section first school district of Pennsyl- 
vania, to fill all vacancies that may occur in their 
board by death, resignation, or otherwise ; all laws or 
parts of laws inconsistent with this section are hereby 
repealed, so far as they relate to said second section 
of the first school district of Pennsylvania. 



73 



AN ACT 

Relating to the sale and conveyance, &c., and for other purposes. 

Passed April 10, 1851. 

PampMet Laws 1851, p. 878. 

Section 23. That the school directors of the tenth ^^^^ of 
section of the first school district of Pennsylvania, shall ^^^^--^%^^ 
elect one additional controller of public schools, so that 
hereafter said tenth section shall be entitled to three ™e.^i,er 
controllers of public schools of said first school district. 



AN ACT 

To incorporate a company to erect a bridge, &c., and for other 
purposes. 

Passed April 15, 1851. 

Pamphlet Laws 1851, p. 6T4. 

RFrTTON 17. That the number of school directors tionaTfelU" dt 

„ T 1 T . • A • T)1ii1„ rectors in ninth 

of the ninth section of the first school district m PJiUa- .e^tion. 
delphia county, is hereby increased three members, said 
members to be elected by the said board under the 
present ordinances and rules of said district regulatmg 
the election of school directors, and for the term of 
three years from the date of their said election. 



INDEX. 



A. 

Academical degi-ees, Controllers to confer upon graduates of High School, 63. 
Accounts of money disbm-sed for Schools, to be examined by Controllers, 15, 16, 

22. 
Adults, male, night schools for, 42. 
Age of pupils, to be admitted into public schools, 59. 

night schools, to be determined by Controllers, 69. 
Annual election of one-thii-d of the Dii-ectors, 86, 37, 42, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 72. 
appropriation. Controllers to report to County Commissioners amount 

required, &c., 22, 23, 43. 
State appropriation, 60, 61. 

statement to be published by Controllers of expenditures and number of 
childi'en in schools, 16, 45. 
Auditors of the county annually to examine and settle accounts of Controllers, 
16. 

B. 

Balance unexpended, of any year's appropriation, 23. 

Ballot, Directors to be elected by, 13. 

Blockley Township, 20, 36, 48. 

Borough — See West Philadelphia, Manayunk, &c., &c. 

Bristol Township, 19, 36, 47, 48. 

Byberry Township, 19, 36, 47, 48. 

By-laws, Controllers to make for their government, 50. 

Du-ectors in first section to make, vacating seats of members, 59. 

incorporated districts of county to make, vacating seats of 
members, 70. 
City and coimty of Philadelphia erected into " The First School District," 11. 
City of Philadelphia to be the First Section, 12. 
Commissioners of incorporated districts to elect School Dh-ectors, 42. 



c. 

Commissioners of Incorporated Districts to fill vacancies among Directors, 64. 

not to be School Directors, 43. 
Common School Fund, 60, 61. 

Controllers, elected by Directors, from their own number, 14. 
not to be county auditors, 40. 

Directors to meet ia their respective districts to elect, 37, 38. 
number of, twenty-four, 38, 39, 63, 67, 73. 
time of election, first Monday in July, annually, 58. 
term of service expu*es on 30th of June, annually, 46. 
vacancy among, to be filled by directoi-s of the section, 14. 
to meet at least quarterly, and may call special meetings, 16. 
five to constitute a quorum, provided that no order for the payment 
of money be made at a special meeting unless a majority 
present, 29, 30. 
to keep regular miautes of their proceedings, 16. 
to examine accounts of moneys disbursed for schools, 15, 16, 22. 
to keep regular books of accounts, which shall be examined and set- 
tled annually by the Auditors of the county, 16. 
to determine number of school houses to be erected, and limit ex- 
pense thereof, 15. 
to provide books for use of pupils, 15. 

to have a general superintendence over all schools iu the district, 
15, 29. 

to make rules for the general regulation of the district, 15. 

to draw orders on country Treasui'er for expenses of schools, pro- 
vided said orders do not exceed amount appropriated for Con- 
trollers by County Board, 16, 43. 

to report to County Commissioners, annually, by first of March, 
amount required for public schools, 22. 

to publish annually ia July, statement of receipts and expenditures, 
16, 45. 

may borrow money in anticipation of the sum to be placed to their 
credit, by county Treasurer, and pledge said sum for payment 
thereof, 23. 

authorized to contract for sale of lot of ground on Lombard St., 28. 

to furnish Superintendent of common schools, when required, 
reports as to condition and management of their schools, 39. 

to open night schools for male adults, 42. 
for females, 69. 

to fix time of re-opening and closing all night schools, 69. 

to determine the age at which pupils may be admitted into night 
schools, 69. 



77 

Controllers to prescribe duties of visitors of night schools, 69. 

to establish a Model School to qualify teachers for the district or 
state, 15. 
a High School for pupils of the public schools of the 
district, 34. 
to confer academical degrees upon graduates of High School, 63. 

honorary degrees, &c., same as University of Pennsylva- 
nia, 63. 
from fourth section, to be elected viva voce, 63. 
incorporated, 49, &c. 

to take and hold real and personal estate for public school pur- 
poses, 49, 50. 
power to sell and dispose of real estate, 49. 
Secretary of, not be one of their own body, 50. 
to make by-laws for their well government, 15, 50. 
same powers and privileges, and subject to the same duties as pre- 
viously, 50. 
vested with title to all property held in trust for or to their use, 50. 
Coimcils, Common and Select of Philadelphia, to appoint Directors for fii-st sec- 
tion, 12, 
to fill vacancies in Board of Di- 
rectors of first section, 58. 
County Auditors to examine and settle annually, accounts of Controllers, 16. 

not to be Controllers, 40. 
County Board to make appropriation for Controllers, 43. 

term of office of members of, 45. 
County Commissioners to ascertain the per centum upon amount of county tax, 
which will produce the sum required for public 
schools, and give notice thereof to County Trea- 
surer, 22. 
to raise and pay to County Treasurer on first Monday of 
every month, one-twelfth part of the sum necessary 
for school expenses of the current year, 33. 
to publish annually in July, statement of expenditures, 45. 
not to be School Directors, 52. 

to publish statement furnished by Superintendent of 
Common Schools, of amount of state appropriation 
due, 60. 
to make triennial retiu'ns of number of taxables to Super- 
intendent of Common Schools, on or before first of 
AprU, 61. 
formerly held real and personal estate for use of schools, 31 . 



78 

County Treasm-er to keep separate account for the Controllers, and as taxes are 
paid in by Collectors, to pass to the credit of Controllers 
the amount agreeably to the rate per centum fixed by 
Commissioners, 22. 

upon receipt of the monthly one-twelfth part of the sum re- 
quired for public schools, to pass same to credit of Con- 
trollers, 33. 

to pay orders drawn on him by Controllers, 22. 

to give and take receipts for money so received and paid by 
him, 22. 

to report to Controllers the state of their account whenever 
required, 28. 

to receive money borrowed by Controllers, in anticipation of 
the sum to be placed to their credit, 23. 



Directors to be taxable inhabitants, residing within the respective sections, 12, 

62. 
in the city and incorporated districts elected by ballot, by Councils 

and Commissioners, 12, 13. 
in Moyamensiug, or Ninth Section, elected viva voce, 64, 65. 
in Spring Garden, or Fourth Section, to be nominated at previous 

stated meeting of the Commissioners, 62. 
in outer sections elected by people on third Friday in March, 36. 
annual election of, in the city and incorporated districts, between first 

and twentieth of March, 41. 
annual election of, in Thii'd Section, or Southwark, between fii'st and 

twentieth of May, 68. 
one-third of the whole number of, elected annually, 36, 37, 42, 62, 63, 

65, 66, 68, 72. 
term of service of, three years, 36, 37, 42, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 72. 
number of; see Sections, 
not to be Commissioners of the incorporated districts in County of 

Philadelphia, 43. 
not to be County Commissioners, 52. 

list of, to be transmitted by Councils and Commissioners to Control- 
lers, who are to publish the same and give personal notice to 

Directors of their election, 24. 
to meet at least monthly, 17. 
to keep regular minutes of their proceedings, 17. 
to divide themselves into as many committees as there may be schools 

in the particular section, &c., 17. 



79 

Directors, said Committees of, to keep regrilar minutes of tlieir proceedings, and 
exhibit the same to Dii-ectors when required, 17. 

to erect and establish so many schools m theii- respective sections as 
may be determined upon by Controllers, 17. 

to provide all things necessary for maijitaining and conducting schools 
in their respective sections, and to superintend said schools, 17. 

to appoint Teachers, 17. 

in townships and boroughs of outer sections, to appomt Teachers after 
a public examination; powers and duties of said Dh-ectors 47 
48. ' ' 

to give public notice of opening of schools, 19. 
to appoint visitors of night schools, 68, 69. 

not requii-ed to admit chUch-en into public schools under sis years of 
age, 69. 

have a cUscretion in admitting children between foiu-teen and sixteen 
59. 

to elect Controllers from among their own number, at meetings in 

their respective sections, 14, 37, 38. 
time of election of Controllers by, first Monday in July, annually, 58. 
of Seventh and Eighth Sections, to hold a joint meeting for election of 

a Controller, 28, 29. 
to report the state of theii- schools to ControUers every six months, 17. 
to perform their duties without compensation, 17. 
exempt from serving as jui'ors, arbitrators, overseers of the poor, &c., 

and from militia duty, 17. 
vacancies among, in Fii-st Section, filled by Councils, 58. 

in Incorporated District, filled by Commissioners, 64. 
in Second Section, fiUed by Directors, 72. 
in Outer Sections, " '< 37 54, 

in City and Incorporated Districts, may make by-laws, vac'ating seats 
of members who do not give proper attention to their duties 59 
70. 

E. 

Election of ControUers by Dh-ectors on first Monday in July, annually, 58. 
of Directors ; see Dii-ectors and Sections. 

of Teachers in outer sections, to be by Du-ectors of the borough or 
township in which school is located, 47, 48. 
Examination of Teachers in outer sections to be public, 47, 48. 
Exemption of School Du-ectors from serving as jm-ors', arbitrators, overseers of 

the poor, &c., and from militia duty, 17. 
Expenses, estimate of, to be made to the County Commissioners annually, on or 
before first of March, by the Controllers, 22. 



80 

Expenses, accoimts of, in erecting, establisMng and maintaining public schools, 
to be examined by Controllers, 15, 16, 22. 

F. 

Fiscal year of First School District, 45. 
Frankford, Borough of, 51. 
Fund, Common School, 60, 61. 

a. 

Germantown Township, Directors in, 19, 35, 36. 
Borough of. Directors in, 35, 36, 56. 

H. 

High School for pupils of public schools of the District, to be established by Con- 
trollers, 34. 
Academical degrees upon graduates of, 63. 
Honorary degrees, Controllers empowered to confer, 63. 



Incorporation of "The Controllers of the Public Schools of the First School 

District of Pennsylvania," 49, &c. 
Indigent children, benefits of public schools no longer confined to, 34, 35. 

K. 

Kensington District, 12, 30, 38. 

Du-ectors in, see Section Tenth. 
Kingsessing, Township of. Directors in, 20, 36, 65. 



Lancasterian system, exclusive use of no longer obligatory upon Controllers and 

Directors, 34. 
Lombard street, lot of ground on. Controllers authorized to sell, 28. 
Lower Dublin Township, Directors in, 19, 36. 

M. 

Manayunk, Borough of, Dii-ectors in, 55, 57, 69, 70. 
Meetings of Controllers to be at least quarterly, 16. 
Special, 16, 29, 30. 



81 

Meeting of Controllers, Quonim at, 29, 30. 

Directors, to be at least monthly, 17. 

Quorum at, in First Section, 59. 
Minutes, Controllers to keep, of their proceedings, 16. 
Directors to keep, of their proceedings, 17. 
Committees of Directors to keep, 17. 
Model School, to qualify Teachers for the sectional schools or for schools in other 

parts of the State, 15. 
Moreland ToiSTiship, Directors in, 19, 36. 

Mount Airy School, trustees of, authorized to conYey lot and buildiags to Con- 
trollers, 54. 
Moyamensing, 12, 13, 26, 27, 41, 64, 67, 78. 

N. 

New Section, mode of establishing, 18. 
Night Schools, for male adults, 42. 
for females, 69. 

■visitors of, to be appointed by Directors, 68, 69. 
number of 69. 

duties of, to be prescribed by Controllers, 69. 
Controllers to fix time of re-opening and closing aU night schools, 

69. 
Controllers to determine age at ■which pupils to be admitted, 69. 
Northern Liberties, Incorporated, 12, 13, 41. 

Unincorporated, 12, 30, 36, 38. 
Notice of election of Directors to be furnished by Councils of City and Commis- 
sioners of Districts, to Controllers, 23, 24. 
containing list of said Directors, to be published by Controllers, 24. 
personal, of their election to be given by Controllers to Directors, 24. 

0. 

Opening of ne^w schools, public notice of, to be given by Directors, 19. 

Outer sections. Directors elected by people on third Friday in March, 36. 

Directors elected in the to-mships and boroughs of, to have super- 
■vision of the schools in the same, and the appointment and 
removal of Teachers, and other po^wers and duties, 47, 48. 

Oxford To^vmship, Directors, 19, 36, 51. 

P. 

Passyunk school house, 25. 
To-vraship, 12, 24. 

Directors in, 36, 46. 
6 



82 

Peiin Township, 12, 38. 

Directors in, 36. 
Property of public schools vested in Controllers, 49, 50, 51. 
Public schools, benefits of, no longer confined to children of indigent parents, 

34, 35. 
Pupils, age of, admitted into public schools, 59. 

night schools to be fixed by Controllers, 69. 

Q. 

Quorum, five Controllers to constitute, provided that no order for payment of 
money be made at a special meeting, unless a majority present, 
29, 30. 
twenty directors to constitute, in First Section, 59. 

E. 

Reports, to be furnished Superintendent of common schools by Controllers, of 

condition and management of their schools when required, 39. 
Report, annual, by Controllers to County Commissioners, by first of March, of 
amount required for public schools, 22. 
annual, by Controllers, in July, of receipts and expenditures, &c., 16, 45. 
by County Commissioners to County Treasurer, of amount required for 

public schools, 22. 
by County Commissioners in July annually, of expenditures, 45. 
triennial, by Coixnty Commissioners, on or before first of April, to Super- 
intendent of common schools, of number of taxables, 61. 
by County Treasurer to Controllers, of the state of their account when- 
ever required, 23. 
by Directors of the several sections, to Controllers every six months, of 
the state of all their schools, 17. 
Robeson school, in Manayunk, Trustees of, to convey lot and buildings to Con- 
trollers, 69, 70. 
" Roxborough School House," School Dii-ectors of Roxborough Township, to be 

Trustees of, 53. 
Roxborough Township, Directors in, 19, 36, 53, 55, 56, 57. 

s. 

Secretary of Controllers, not to be one of their own body, 50. 
to give security, 50. 
of Board of Dii-ectors, in city and incorporated districts, to notify 
Coimcils and Commissioners of vacancies, 58, 64. 
Section, New, mode of establishing, 18. 



83 

Section First, established, 12. 

number of Directors in, fifty-four, 12, 26, 41. 

of Controllers for, seven, 38, 39. 
quorum of Directors in, twenty, 59. 
vacancies among Directors, how fiUed, 58. 
Directors to make by-laws, vacating seats of members, 59. 
Second, established, 12, 80. 

number of Directors in, twenty-four, 13, 41. 

of Controllers, three, 30, 38. 
Directors of, fill vacancies in their own number, 72. 
Third, established, 12. 

number of Directors in, eighteen, 13, 40, 67, 68. 
number of Controllers, two, 38. 

Directors in, elected between first and twentieth of May, 67, 68. 
Fourth, established, 12, 13. 

number of Directors, twenty-one, 13, 41, 62. 

of Controllers, three, 38, 63. 
Dii'ectors in, to be nominated at previous stated meeting of 

Commissioners, before being balloted for, 62. 
Controllers from, elected viva voce, 63. 
Fifth, estabUshed, 19. 

number of Directors eighteen, 36. 
powers and duties of Directors, 47, 48. 
has one Controller, 28, 38. 
Sixth, established, 19. 

number of Directors, 36, 55, 56, 57. 
powers and duties of Directors, 47, 48. 
has one Controller, 38. 
Seventh, established, 20. 

number of Directors twenty-one, 36, 48, 52, 65, 66. 
powers and duties of Dii-ectors, 47, 48. 
with Eighth Section elect one Controller, 38. 
Eighth, established, 24, 25. 

number of Directors in, six, 36, 46. 
powers and duties of Directors, 47, 48. 
with Seventh Section elect one Controller, 38. 
Ninth, established, 26, 27. 

number of Directors fifteen, 27, 41, 73. 
number of Controllers two, 38, 67. 
dii-ectors in, elected viva voce, 64, 65. 
Tenth, established, 30, 38. 

number of Directors, twenty-four, 47, 71, 72. 
number of Controllers, thi-ee, 38, 73. 



84 

Section Eleventh, established, 38. 

number of Directors, nine, 36. 
has one Controller, 38. 
powers and duties of Directors, 47, 48. 
Southwark, District of, 12, 13, 40, 47, 67, 68. 
Special meetings of Controllers, 16, 29, 30. 
Spring Garden, District of, 13, 41, 62, 63. 
State appropriation, 60, 61. 

Superintendent of Common Schools, annually in April, to transmit to County 

Commissioners a statement of amount 
of school fimd due, 60. 
to be furnished by Controllers with reports 
as to condition and management of 
their schools, when required, 39. 



T. 

Taxables, number of to be furnished to Superintendent of common schools by 

County Commissioners, triennially, 61. 
Teachers appointed by Directors, 17. 

in outer sections to be examined publicly, 47, 48. 

appointed and removed by Directors elected in the 
Township or Borough in which school is located, 
47, 48. 
Term of service of Controllers expires on 30th of June annually, 46. 

Directors expires on 30th of June annually, 46, 47. 

three years, 36, 37, 42, 63, 65, 66, 68, 72. 
members of County Board, 45. 
Time of election of Controllers, 58. 

Directors in Incorporated Districts of first school district, 41. 
in Third Section, 67, 68. 
in Outer Sections, 36. 
Title to public school property vested in Controllers, 49, 50. 
Township, see Blockley, Bristol, &c. 

Trustees of Roxborough School House, powers and duties of vested in School 
Directors of Roxborough Township, 53. 
of Mount Airy School, in the Township of Germantown, to convey lot 
and buildings to Controllers, 53, 54. 



u. 

Unexpended balance of any year's appropriation to form part of estimate of next 
year, 23. 



85 

V. 

Vacancies among Controllers filled by Directors, 14. 

Directors in First Section filled by Councils, 58. 

in Incorporated Districts of County filled by Com- 
missioners, 64. 
in Second Section filled by Directors, 72. 
in case of. Secretary of Sectional Board to notify 

Councils or Commissioners thereof, 58, 64. 
in Outer Sections, filled by Directors, 37, 64. 
in City and Incorporated Districts of Coimty, Directors authorized to 
make by-laws, creating, where Directors do not give proper at 
tention, 59, 70. 
Visitors of Night Schools appointed by Directors, 68. 
their number, 68, 69. 
duties of, prescribed by Controllers, 69. 

w. 

West Philadelphia, Borough of, Dii-ectors in, nine, 36, 52, 66. 

name changed to that of the District of West 
Philadelphia, 71. 



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